North Schuylkill School District - Home of the Spartans

Curriculum and Instruction

Dear Parents, Students, Administration, and Staff,

As we close out the 2024–2025 school year, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to another successful year at North Schuylkill. Your ongoing support, dedication, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our students and school community.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! You have left your mark and set a strong example of leadership and determination. Your achievements will continue to inspire all of us as we look ahead to the future of North Schuylkill.

Our team began preparing for the 2025–2026 school year, and is hard at work planning courses, analyzing data, selecting new resources and tools, and organizing meaningful professional development opportunities. These efforts are focused on enhancing instruction, deepening student engagement, and continuing to meet the individual needs of every learner while challenging them to grow academically and personally.

Our staff continues to show unwavering dedication and a student-first mindset. Their commitment extends beyond academics; supporting students’ well-being, nurturing their talents, and helping them build the skills they need for college, careers, and life. We also value our partnership with families, and we remain focused on extending learning beyond the classroom, including through the summer months.

Thank you once again for being such an integral part of our school community. I wish each of you a restful, safe, and joyful summer.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kimberly Groody

Curriculum Resources

Curriculum Maps

The North Schuylkill School District Curriculum Maps are housed on a Google Document and are aligned to the PA Core Standards.

Standards Alignment System

As a tool, we use the Standards Aligned System (SAS) that is the Pennsylvania Department of Education digital curriculum and instruction resource site. The SAS is a comprehensive, researched-based resource to improve student achievement. The SAS is comprised of six distinct element which provide a common framework for continuous student, teacher, and school and district growth. The elements are Standards, Assessment, Curriculum Framework, Instruction, Materials and Resources and Safe and Supportive Schools. Numerous resources for teaching and developing high quality mathematics education programs are available on the Standards Aligned System website. The SAS portal is designed to organize and deliver educational content carefully aligned to Pennsylvania Academic Standards.

PA Core Standards

The State Board of Education adopted the Core Standards in July 2010. Since that time, the decision was made to craft a set of PA Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. A group of Pennsylvania educators created a draft set of PA Core Standards. These new standards mirror the content and rigor of Common Core, but reflect the organization and design of the PA Academic Standards. Additionally, the Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies and Science/Technical Subjects will be appended to their respective PA Academic Standards. The PA Core Standards are currently being reviewed within the regulatory review process.

Standards Documents

General Standards Information

Student Guide to PA Core Standards
PA Core Standards Parent Fact Sheet
PA Core Standards Student Fact Sheet

English Language Arts PA Core Standards

PA Core - English Language Arts, Grade PreK-5
PA Core - English Language Arts, Grade 6-12

Developing Literacy skills in reading, writing and listening is a collaborative responsibility of all educators. Classroom learning experiences should enhance and expand the communication and critical thinking skills that allow students to develop resiliency and positive attitudes as they grow into effective readers, writers, commutators and life-long learners. The Pennsylvania Department of Education embraces effective literacy teaching and learning through a system that includes a comprehensive, research-based approach that supports teacher effectiveness and student achievement.

Mathmatics PA Core Standards

PA Core - Mathematics, Grades PreK-12

The PK-12 PA Core Standards for Mathematics cannot be viewed or addressed in isolation, as each standard depends upon or may lead into multiple standards across grades; thus, it is imperative that educators are familiar with both the standards that come before and those that follow a particular grade level. These revised standards reflect instructional shifts that cannot occur without the integrated emphasis on content and practice. Standards are overarching statements of what a proficient math student should know and be able to do. The Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content closely align with the revised standards and are an invaluable source for greater detail.

Key Points in Mathematics:

The standards stress both procedural skills and conceptual understanding to ensure students are learning and applying the critical information they need to succeed at higher levels.
K–5 standards, which provide students with a solid foundation in whole numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals, help young students build the foundation to successfully apply more demanding math concepts and procedures, and move into application. They also provide detailed guidance to teachers on how to navigate their way through topics such as fractions, negative numbers, and geometry, and do so by maintaining a continuous progression from grade to grade.
Having built a strong foundation at K–5, students can do hands-on learning in geometry, algebra, and probability and statistics. Students who have mastered the content and skills through the seventh grade will be well-prepared for algebra in grade 8.
High school standards emphasize applying mathematical ways of thinking to real world issues and challenges.
Teachers shall expect that students know and can apply the concepts and skills expressed at the preceding level. Consequently, previous learning is reinforced but not re-taught. Students who achieve these mathematical standards will be able to communicate mathematically.

Social Studies PA Academic Standards

PA Core - Reading for History and Social Studies 6-12
PA Core - Writing for History and Social Studies 6 -12

Science NGSS Standards

PA Core - Reading for Science and Technical Subjects 6-12
PA Core - Writing for Science and Technical Subjects 6-12

Computer Science CSTA Standards

CSTA - Computer Science Standards - K-12

Career Ready

Career Ready
Career Ready Skills
Career Ready 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Career Ready 5th Grade Benchmarks
Career Ready 11th Grade Benchmarks

PSSA/Keystone Dates

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) includes assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics which are taken by students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Students in grades 4 and 8 are administered the Science PSSA. The English Language Arts and Mathematics PSSAs include items that are consistent with the Assessment Anchors/Eligible Content aligned to the Pennsylvania Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The Science PSSA includes items that are aligned to the Assessment Anchors/Eligible Content aligned to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science, Technology, Environment and Ecology.

PSSA Testing Windows for 2025-2028

Keystone Exams

Keystone Exams are end–of-course assessments in designated content areas. The Keystone Exams serve two purposes: (1) high school accountability assessments for federal and state purposes, and (2) high school graduation requirements for students beginning with the class of 2017. The Algebra I and Literature Keystone Exams include items written to the Assessment Anchors/Eligible Content aligned to the Pennsylvania Core Standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts. The Biology Keystone Exam includes items written to the Assessment Anchor/Eligible Content aligned to the enhanced Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science.

Keystone Exams Testing Windows 2025-2027