The relevance of the problem under study stems from the new social and economic, moral and psychological situation in the society. In its development, the priority is currently given to both shared human values and national ones, to initiative and entrepreneurial spirit of the young people who can transform their homeland and improve Russia's life in general. With regard to this, the objective of this research is to outline the pedagogical technology for measuring the patriotism formation level in senior school students in conditions of social commitment and initiative gaining importance. The leading method of studying the problem is the criteria- and levels-based approach which allows singling out the criteria and levels of formation of patriotism in the contemporary senior school students. In the paper, the following criteria are suggested for the extent of formation of patriotism: the needs-related and motivational one, the cognitive and emotional one, and the behavioral criterion. The authors distinguish between a very high, a high, an average, and a low patriotism formation level. They also discuss the foreign experience of shaping social commitment and initiative in children and youth. The materials of the paper are of practical importance for teachers, educators, class teachers of comprehensive institutions and further education institutions, as well as for the young teachers and students of pedagogical higher educational institutions.