The middle school reading examination serves as a checkpoint for high school preparation. Performance on this exam can help predict high school success in reading. 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.

In 2021, 52% of students in Lancaster County and 19% of students in the Lancaster City School District passed the PSSA Grade 8 English Language Arts exam, down from 60% in the County and 26% in the District in 2019. In contrast, 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 37% in the County and 23% in the District in 2019. Lancaster County's 2021 rate for all students was slightly lower than the statewide rate of 53%. Its rate for historically underperforming students was slightly below the statewide rate of 33%.

When compared with surrounding counties, Lancaster County has the second-highest proficiency rate among all students, following Cumberland and Chester (both 61%), and the third-highest performance rate among historically underperforming students, following Cumberland (38%) and Chester (33%). Lancaster County's share of historically underperforming students in eighth grade (32%) is similar to York (32%), and higher than Berks (28%), Lebanon (25%) and Dauphin (25%).

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.