ALL Juniors were given the ASVAB Exam on Thursday, November 2nd, in the upper balcony of the Auditorium. The student's exam results were given to them on 12/7/23, in their English class.
Starting with the graduating class of 2023, high school students will need to comply with Act 6 in order to graduate in the state of Pennsylvania. Previously, a statewide requirement was signed into law that stated students must attain at least a proficient score on all three of the end of course Keystone Exams (Algebra 1, Literature, and Biology). Now, with Act 158 being instated, students have alternative pathways to meet state graduation requirements in case they do not pass their Keystone Exams. One of these alternative pathways is the Keystone Composite Pathway and the other is the CTE Concentrator/Alternative Assessment Pathway. The Keystone Composite Pathway still focuses on a student’s score on the three individual Keystone exams, however the CTE Concentrator/Alternative Assessment Pathway provides students with numerous routes and options for graduation compliance.
To give students as many opportunities as possible to meet the state requirement, Deer Lakes High School will now be giving the ASVAB exam to the entire junior class each fall. The ASVAB exam is an aptitude test designed to help young people align their strengths and interests with a post-secondary plan that works to their advantage. It measures a students developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success. It is also completely free. The exam takes about three hours and includes 200 items. It tests a students’ mathematics knowledge, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, and more. Following the exam, scores will be released to students and a career workshop will be held. The career workshop will include the following:
- Exam score interpretation
- Completion of an interest inventory
- Exploration of the OCCU-Find database
- Time for students to map out their post high school plans
Historically, the ASVAB has been given the stereotype that it is the “military entrance exam”. While the exam does provide a score for interested students to enlist in the military, it does not automatically mean students are military bound. The ASVAB allows students to explore a full spectrum of occupations in line with their interests and skills whether they are college, trade school, military, or work force bound. With our ever-changing workforce, Deer Lakes High School feels the ASVAB will give students the best direction possible when planning what they would like to do after high school, in addition to an alternative pathway to the PDE graduation requirement. Exam scores will not be released to the military unless the student and their parent/guardian grant permission to do so.
Deer Lakes High School gives the ASVAB exam during school hours. Students do not need to do anything to prepare for the exam. If you have questions regarding the ASVAB exam or the administration of it, please contact your child's School Counselor.
Mrs. Tina Pascucci, School Counselor (A - L) Mrs. Taylor Yuhasz, School Counselor (M - Z)
724-265-5320 x-2671 724-265-5320 x-2670