Graduation Requirements & Grading

Graduation from Upper St. Clair High School requires satisfactory completion of a cumulative minimum of 44.5* credits in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. The requirements by subject areas are listed below:

*For students graduating in 2028 and beyond, satisfactory completion of 1 credit of Personal Finance will be required, for a total of 45.5 credits.

Any class which meets 3 days per week will earn two credits per year or one credit per semester. Any class which meets fewer than 3 days per week will earn one credit per year or one-half credit per semester.

All students are required to complete a career-focused graduation project (culminating project) by May of their senior year as part of the graduation requirement.  The project will be 3½ years of research stemming from school counselor meetings, class assignments, and the career development program. The USC High School Graduation Project provides students the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned through career research and exploration and is completed utilizing MaiaLearning and other interdisciplinary activities. 

In accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Education, every student will participate in the administration of the Keystone exams upon completion of three courses: Algebra I, Literature, and Biology. Act 158 of 2018 and Act 6 of 2017 provide alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on these Keystone exams. Beyond proficiency on all three Keystone exams, students also have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways.

Students who do not score Proficient or Advanced on all three Keystone exams will work with their school counselor to determine their pathway to graduation. Additionally, students who do not score Proficient or Advanced Keystone exams will participate in remediation, which will include targeted support and focused test-taking skill development.

A complete overview of Pennsylvania's Pathways to Graduation, including criteria required to meet each pathway, can be found here.

Calculation of a weighted grade point average (5.0) and an unweighted grade point average (4.0) for each student is indicated on the transcript.  Upper St. Clair High School does not rank students.  Through much research, deliberation, and consultation with colleges and universities and competitive high schools comparable to Upper St. Clair, we have concluded that it best serves our students to eliminate class rank.

Our weighted grade point average system is reflective of the difficulty and workload of Honors (HN), Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College in High School (CHS) courses, and is calculated as follows:

Weighted GPA = Unweighted GPA + [.25/4S x (4A + 3B + 2C)], where

• 4 = reflects the expectation that four weighted classes be taken during each of the semesters that can be completed under the weighted system;
• S = represents the number of potential semesters that can be completed under the weighted system (8 semesters);
• A = the number of A's earned in HN, AP, IB, CHS courses;
• B = the number of B's earned in HN, AP, IB, CHS courses;
• C = the number of C's earned in HN, AP, IB, CHS courses.

The numbers 4, 3, and 2 inside the parentheses are the (unweighted) quality points awarded for that particular letter grade. Grades of "D" and "F" will not be weighted. 

The additional value of .25 was chosen to represent the increased difficulty level of HN, AP, IB, CHS courses.

In summary, each student's transcript will consist of an unweighted GPA (maximum possible 4.0) and a weighted GPA (maximum possible 5.0).  Maximum possible weighted GPA’s at the end of each year are: 9th grade (4.25); 10th grade (4.5); 11th grade (4.75); mid-year 12th grade (4.875); and 12th grade (5.0).  It is important to note that students cannot attain a weighted GPA of 5.0 until the end of their senior year when the final weighted GPA is calculated. For those students who take more than thirty-two Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College in High School courses, only the thirty-two highest grades in those courses will be included in the calculation of the final weighted GPA. Grades earned in all courses will be included in the calculation of the unweighted GPA.

In some cases, a student’s needs may warrant becoming a withdrawn senior. To request this, a parent must submit a written request for approval by the school counselor and principal. Withdrawn seniors may not participate in Spring sports, but will participate in spring senior activities. Diplomas are awarded only during regular commencement exercises.

Students with disabilities may meet the graduation requirements specified above or may graduate upon satisfactorily completing a special education program developed by an Individualized Education Program team under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Students who enter Upper St. Clair High School in their junior or senior year who have not had the opportunity to participate in the Keystone Exams prior to entering USCHS will meet with USCHS administrators and school counselors to determine how proficiency in the areas of Algebra 1, Biology, and English Literature will be met subject to guidance from the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The Superintendent may waive the requirements for meeting the proficiency requirements on a case-by-case basis for good cause based on the provisions of Chapter 4.51d of the Pa. School Code.