By Dayanara Manon –

The class of 2016 will be remembered for something that was not of their creation, and that is for the new mandatory testing standards, required for graduation. While exciting, this year has been stressful for seniors who must pass a standardized test to ensure that they will be able to graduate this June.

Therefore, seniors in addition to worrying about completing college applications, trying to get accepted to a college, and stressing about completing classes required for graduation, and paying for college when they graduate, must also prove that they have passed an approved state test. If one of these approved tests is not passed, then graduation will not be possible.

So what will happen if a student is already accepted to college, has all the required credits and is all set to graduate, except for the test? That is a frightening thought, to think that graduation is right around the corner, only to be denied because of a test.

However, there are many options to passing and through the diligence of the students at PHS, every student who wishes to, can and will pass, and then graduate. Following is a list of approved tests and the minimum required passing score. Remember it is ultimately up to the individual graduating student to prove that he or she has the passing test grade to graduate.

SAT-Critical Reading or Math – Passing Score: 400
ACT- Reading or Math – Passing Score: 16
ASVAB-AFQT Score – Passing Score: 31
Accuplacer- Writer Placer – Passing Score: 8
Accuplacer Math-Elementary Algebra – Passing Score: 76
PARCC ELA – Passing Score: 725
PARCC Algebra II – Passing Score: 725