What does this measure?
The percentage of students considered proficient or advanced on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Grade 3 Math exam, reported for both the total student population and those students defined as "historically underperforming." Pennsylvania defines historically underperforming groups as students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and English language learners.
Why is this important?
Development of early math skills is an important part of elementary schooling and a foundation for continuing progress in not only math, but also science and related subjects. Proficiency among historically underperforming students can show whether districts and education policymakers have made progress in closing the achievement gap between traditionally underserved groups and other students.
How does our county compare?
In 2021, 50% of students in Lancaster County and 20% of Lancaster City School District students scored as proficient or advanced on the PSSA Grade 3 Math exam, down from 59% in the County and 37% in the District in 2019. In comparison, 32% of historically underperforming students in Lancaster County and 17% of historically underperforming students in the Lancaster City School District passed the exam, down from 44% in the County and 35% in the District in 2019. Lancaster County's 2021 proficiency rate was above the statewide rate for both groups (which was 47% for all students and 29% for historically underperforming students).
Compared with surrounding counties, Lancaster County has the third highest proficiency rate among all students following Chester (59%) and Cumberland (55%) and the second highest performance rate among historically underperforming students following Cumberland County at 34%. Lancaster County's share of historically underperforming students in third grade (32%) is higher than Chester (31%), York (30%), Lebanon and Berks (both at 22%), and Dauphin (21%).
Notes about the data
As assessments vary among states, it is not possible to include comparable data for the nation or other areas in this indicator. Data are from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The Spring 2020 PSSA was cancelled in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 2021 PSSA results were delayed. 2021 results may not reflect representative samples of the schools' students. Cross-year comparisons of proficiency are likely to be inaccurate for this reason.
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 47% | 29% |
Lancaster County | 50% | 32% |
School District of Lancaster | 20% | 17% |
Pequea Valley School District | 41% | 30% |
Penn Manor School District | 63% | 48% |
Manheim Township School District | 70% | 50% |
Manheim Central School District | 53% | 38% |
Lampeter-Strasburg School District | 64% | 42% |
Hempfield School District | 53% | 32% |
Ephrata Area School District | 58% | 46% |
Solanco School District | 38% | 21% |
Eastern Lancaster County School District | 39% | 30% |
Donegal School District | 47% | 26% |
Warwick School District | 54% | 37% |
Elizabethtown Area School District | 65% | 45% |
Conestoga Valley School District | 49% | 29% |
Columbia Borough School District | 21% | 14% |
Cocalico School District | 59% | 42% |
Dauphin County | 39% | 21% |
Berks County | 40% | 22% |
Chester County | 59% | 31% |
Cumberland County | 55% | 34% |
York County | 48% | 30% |
Lebanon County | 40% | 22% |
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 43,371 | 13,619 |
Lancaster County | 1,972 | 661 |
School District of Lancaster | 112 | 89 |
Pequea Valley School District | 39 | 19 |
Penn Manor School District | 235 | 90 |
Manheim Township School District | 261 | 63 |
Manheim Central School District | 91 | 26 |
Lampeter-Strasburg School District | 124 | 25 |
Hempfield School District | 216 | 59 |
Ephrata Area School District | 144 | 66 |
Solanco School District | 76 | 22 |
Eastern Lancaster County School District | 76 | 29 |
Donegal School District | 83 | 24 |
Warwick School District | 126 | 31 |
Elizabethtown Area School District | 148 | 41 |
Conestoga Valley School District | 124 | 36 |
Columbia Borough School District | 15 | 8 |
Cocalico School District | 102 | 33 |
Dauphin County | 865 | 279 |
Berks County | 1,251 | 371 |
Chester County | 2,657 | 464 |
Cumberland County | 1,089 | 288 |
York County | 1,997 | 597 |
Lebanon County | 524 | 152 |
INDICATORS | TREND |
---|---|
Prekindergarten Participation | Increasing |
Student Performance on Grade 3 English | Not Applicable |
Student Performance on Grade 3 Math | Not Applicable |
Student Performance on Grade 8 English | Not Applicable |
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math | Not Applicable |
Student Performance in Grade 11 Math | Not Applicable |
Student Performance in Grade 11 English | Decreasing |
Per-Student Spending | Maintaining |
Students Receiving Special Education Services | Increasing |
Rate of Foster Care Admissions | Decreasing |
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
Disengaged Youth | Maintaining |
Plans of High School Graduates | Not Applicable |
Enrollment in Local Colleges | Decreasing |
College Graduation Rates | Decreasing |
Brain Drain/Gain | Increasing |
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |