Frequently Asked Questions - Program Overview

Yes, Keystone's demonstrated record of success has earned it recognition from two of the leading accrediting boards in the country, the Northwest Accreditation Commission and Middle States Association of Colleges and School.

Keystone National High school is also licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools and authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a diploma granting institution.

You can be confident that your Keystone education is of the highest quality, and that other accredited schools widely accept the work you do. Although we cannot guarantee that Keystone credits are transferable, we rarely have an issue. Should you have a doubt, you should contact your local school official directly or contact a Keystone Student Service Representative (1-800-255-4937) to work with you and your local school officials to determine acceptance of Keystone credits.

How many students are enrolled in The Keystone School?

About 10,000 at any given point. Since its inception in 1974, Keystone (and its predecessor company) has enrolled more than 200,000 students into more than 700,000 courses.

If my child receives a Keystone diploma, will he/she be accepted to a college or university?

Thousands of parents have confidence in The Keystone School because of its demonstrated record of student success. Keystone National High School graduates have been accepted to over 140 colleges and universities including Stanford, Yale, Duke, Rice and Notre Dame; military academies like West Point, state university systems like the University of Washington, and many other two- and four-year colleges nationwide.

If our prior students are any indication, your child has a great likelihood of getting into college with Keystone.

Will the military accept Keystone graduates?

The Army, Navy, and Marines are allowed to accept 10% of enlistees from Tier 2 schools with a minimum score of 50 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). The Air Force will only accept enlistees from Tier 1 schools. Keystone is currently listed as a Tier 2 school, and many of our graduates have gone on to start a military career. Schools can be re-categorized by the military at any time, so we recommend that you check with your local recruiter for specifics. Students can gain Tier 1 status by successfully completing 15 credit hours of college courses. Most students can earn this in one semester at their local community college.

If my child decided to go back to the public school system, will he/she be accepted? Will Keystone credits transfer?

The Keystone School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. This means that our program meets the academic and administrative standards required for admission to colleges and universities, and for transfer to other high schools. Keystone National High School is also licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a private high school. This allows the school to grant high school diplomas that are recognized by colleges, universities, military organizations and employers.

Although students rarely have any problem transferring Keystone credits back to their local high school, Keystone cannot guarantee that every credit will transfer back to every high school. Should you have a doubt, you should contact your local school official directly or contact Keystone to work with you and your local school officials to determine acceptance of Keystone credits.

If I choose Keystone, will my child be able to maintain social contact?

Absolutely. Keystone students thrive in a learning community, connecting with teachers, other students whenever they wish.

Social contact is a key element within the Keystone learning community. Online courses provide opportunities for students to connect with others through emails and discussion boards.

Are the courses self paced?

Yes, students can work at any time and complete as much or as little work as they need. There are no specific due dates, so the student is able to work ahead if needed, or spend extra time on lessons that are more difficult. Although the courses are self paced, students are required to complete each course within 12 months from the date of enrollment.

Do students receive report cards?

Students will automatically receive an academic record upon completion of their enrollment but may also request an Academic Record any time.

Can students enroll in courses above or below their grade level?

Yes, but middle school students are limited to middle school courses and high school students to high school courses.

Do you require that students enroll in a full course load or do they have the option of enrolling in individual courses?

Students can enroll in a full course load or in individual courses.

Students choose to enroll in individual courses for different reasons:

To gain experience with online learning
To take courses that aren't available in their regular school curriculum
To get ahead in their studies
To challenge themselves with an Honors or Dual Credit course
To make up for missed classes

How do you work with children who are gifted?

If you want a more challenging program of study, Keystone's innovative, flexible, student-focused education is for you.

Keystone students study on their own time and at their own pace, so to the extent that you want to be challenged, the pace of other students is not a factor. Keystone offers advanced courses at both the high school and middle school level.

How do you work with children who have special needs?

Our program allows students to study on their own time and at their own pace, which helps to accommodate many special situations. In addition, our certified teachers are trained to work with students from a variety of backgrounds and with varying educational needs. However, we recognize that each individual is unique and may have a need that we've not faced before.

If you have a particular situation you are concerned with, your best course of action is to speak with our Student Service Representative directly at 1-800-255-4937.

Can I get my GED through Keystone?

No, but you can get something that is much more valuable -- a Keystone National High School diploma. A Keystone diploma is widely recognized by colleges, universities, and employers.

Attaining your Keystone diploma is an indication that you have completed an academic program of the highest standards and qualities.

Can students work at an accelerated pace and move on to the next grade?

Yes. Keystone helps you to reach your individual potential by encouraging you to study on your own time and at your own pace.

Keep in mind, however, that Keystone policy states that you may not complete a course in fewer than eight weeks from the date of enrollment. (This policy is based on a belief that a course of any material value takes a minimum amount of time for the student to properly absorb, apply, and be assessed on the content.) Contact Student Services at 1-800-255-4937 for more information on working at an accelerated pace.

What kind of computer do I need to take online courses?

You can take our online classes using either a PC or a Mac. As of right now, Linux is not officially supported as an operating system by Keystone. If you are running a current version of Firefox and a current version of Adobe Flash Player, our courses should work just fine; however, there may be issues. If such issues come up, we cannot provide support for them at this time.

How much time should parents expect to spend helping their student?

It depends on the individual student, but a parent should expect that students will need help with planning, lots of encouragement and general oversight.