Navigating State Assessments at PALCS
At The Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School, state testing is more than just an assessment—it’s a vital part of our commitment to academic excellence and student success. Our rigorous testing program ensures that students are not only meeting state standards but also mastering essential skills and concepts. Through a combination of state-mandated assessments and internal evaluations, we provide valuable feedback to students, parents, and educators to guide learning and growth.
We understand that state testing can be daunting, which is why we take a supportive approach to help students prepare. From providing study resources and practice materials to offering guidance and encouragement, our dedicated team of educators is here to support students every step of the way. We believe that with the right preparation and mindset, students can approach state testing with confidence and achieve their full potential.
At PALCS, we go beyond simply preparing students for tests. Rather, we instill in them the skills and mindset they need to succeed in any academic setting. Through a comprehensive testing program that emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective study habits, we equip students with the tools they need to excel academically and beyond. With PALCS, state testing becomes not just a measure of knowledge, but an opportunity for growth and achievement.
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SAT/ACT Testing
The Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School is one of the best performing charter schools of both cyber and brick-and-mortar charter schools in the state for ACT scores. The following information is from the 2017-18 school year.
SAT Test Score Information
PALCS students scored 1166 overall on the SAT, higher than the state average of 1073.ACT Test Score Information
PALCS students obtained an average composite score of 26.1 on the ACT, higher than the state average of 23.7.AP Test Scores Information
93 students took 162 AP exams with an average score of 3.9. 87.1% of these students obtained a score of 3 or higher.In July 2017, out of all local districts, charter and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania, The PA Leadership Charter School comes in 10th place for the highest ACT scores in the state.
Previously, PALCS was the best performing cyber charter school in Pennsylvania for senior SAT scores in the Class of 2015 school year, and the #2 charter high school overall. For the 2016-2017 school year, PALCS students continue to beat state averages in both SAT and ACT scores:
PALCS SAT Average – 1166
State SAT Average – 1073
Test Prep
College-bound PALCS students can choose to complete the SAT and/or ACT. The PALCS School Counseling Department will help students find dates and locations for these tests, and we offer a course for high school credit to help student prepare.
The SAT/ACT Prep Course
½ credit | Fall or Spring | Grades 10-12
The SAT/ACT Preparatory Course will utilize the number2.com website to increase a student’s understanding of the SAT/ACT exam. This course will build a student’s vocabulary, reading and math skills using teacher monitored tools and additional materials.
In this course students will:
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Improve reading comprehension
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Learn college level vocabulary
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Practice writing timed essays
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Increase understanding of college level math
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Expand grammar usage
It is recommended, but not required, that students take the PSAT prior to enrolling in this course.
Looking for other grades or courses? Visit our Academics page!
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State Testing
As PALCS is a public school in Pennsylvania, PALCS students participate in state-mandated testing: the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and the Keystone Exams.
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PSSAs: Taken by every student in grades 3 through 8 in language arts and math. Students in grades 5 and 8 are additionally tested in science.
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Keystones: Taken by students after they have completed English Literature, Algebra 1 and Biology courses, usually in early high school grades. Completion of the Keystone Exams is also part of the graduation requirements at PALCS.
Though PALCS is a cyber school, state testing will take place in-person at various locations around the state, proctored by PALCS teachers and staff. Attendance and participation at in-person state assessments is mandatory, and parents should plan transportation for students, allotting time for test completion.
PALCS is the best-performing cyber charter school serving all grades K-12 in Pennsylvania. Complete PSSA information can be found directly on the PA Department of Education website, PASchoolPerformance.org. We are listed as “Pennsylvania Leadership CS” on the Charter/Cyber Charter tab.
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Course Grading & Testing
Courses
PALCS students complete all their regular day-to-day schoolwork online. After students receive instruction from their teachers, local assessments such as course-level quarterly exams, quizzes, and unit tests are completed much like in a brick-and-mortar school, though they are completed on computer through our school website. Tests and quizzes, combined with writing, projects, media submissions, online discussions, live participation, and more factor together to create the course grades for PALCS students.
MAP Testing
As part of our language arts and math courses, PALCS students periodically participate in online Measure of Academic Progress, MAP, testing to check that students are comprehending and progressing through their instructional school year. This adaptive test allows students to complete open-ended questions to the best of their ability. In turn, the data from MAP testing helps PALCS teachers correctly tier students into course difficulty levels, so we can support or challenge our students as necessary into on-level, academic, college-prep, and advanced/honors/AP courses.
Learn more about our curriculum, broken down by grade level, on our Academics page.
AP Testing
Students completing AP courses may cap their course by completing the AP exam in their completed course. In 2018, 93 students took 162 AP exams with an average score of 3.9.
87% of students obtained a score of 3 or higher on AP exams taken at PALCS.
