Central Pennsylvania students are not proficient in math, still below pre-pandemic levels

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) quietly released its failing Pa. System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores, notably a day after school board elections were held across the state.

In the Nov. 8^th press release, PDE Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin said the state is “well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic rates.” However, standardized test scores of the top rated school districts in central Pennsylvania do not appear to be approaching their pre-pandemic levels.

Pa. standardized test scores begin to rebound, but still lag behind pre-pandemic numbers https://t.co/dWVrhEtpeA

— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (@PittsburghPG) November 10, 2023

In this report, Harrisburg100 provides analysis of standardized test scores at local school districts – specifically, 8^th grade math, as this is widely considered a pivotal development point in a student’s career path. We also look at the statewide average and how this number has fluctuated since 2015.

Cumberland County school districts generally fare better than public schools in Dauphin County with the exception of Carlisle School District, where about 83% of students are not proficient in 8^th grade math, compared to 77% in 2022. Almost 90% of East Pennsboro School District 8^th graders are “not proficient,” worse than 2022’s rate: at 86.6%.

Derry Township School District boasts the best math numbers in Dauphin County schools, with 43.4% not proficient at 8^th grade level; down from 50.8% in 2022. In pre-pandemic 2016, Derry Township held a 44.8% rate of students not proficient in math, positioning them as perhaps the school district closest to their “pre-pandemic” rate.

For comparison, in Camp Hill School District, nearly 70% of 8^th grade students are not proficient in Math this year, versus 74.5% in 2022; but in pre-pandemic 2016, 57.3% were not proficient. In Cumberland Valley School District, 51.3% of 8^th grade students were not proficient in math, versus a comparable 52.1% in 2019.

And, faring the worst in Cumberland County schools is East Pennsboro School District, where 89.4% of 8^th graders are not proficient; followed closely by Carlisle Area School District, where 82.9% of 8^th graders scored not proficient. Shippensburg School District 8^th graders come in third, with 75.9% not proficient.

Cumberland Valley School Board Member-Elect Kelly Potteiger made these scores a major focal point of her campaign, along with the ever-lowering state averages, to which Cumberland Valley – and other school districts – often compare their scores to tilt public perception.

Currently, the state average shows a whopping: 74% of students are not proficient in math at the 8^th grade level, with a dismal 47% on average score “Below Basic” (the lowest designation that PSSA assigns). While today, only 26% can claim proficiency in 8^thgrade math, that average keeps slipping: in 2019, those meeting 8^th grade math proficiency totaled 32.2% (statewide average). (see graph)

Faring among the worst in ratings are Middletown Area School District, Susquehanna Township School District, York City School District, Steelton and Highspire School District, and Harrisburg School District, where 90%, 96%, 97%, 98% and 99% respectively of students in 8^th grade are “not proficient” in math.

The Nov. 8^th PDE press release notes that these scores are a reflection of student achievement in reading, mathematics, science and writing “according to Pennsylvania’s world-class academic standards.” Harrisburg100’s at-a-glance snapshot shows “all students” – not special groups (i.e. Black, Hispanic, ELL, IEP)

To see all the PSSA scores, visit this link: https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/Assessments/Pages/PSSA-Results.aspx