What does this measure?
The percentage of students considered proficient or advanced on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Grade 3 English Language Arts exam, reported for the total population and for student groups including specific races and ethnicities, English Language Learners, and those considered "economically disadvantaged."
Why is this important?
The middle school math examination serves as a checkpoint for high school preparation. Performance on this exam can help predict high school success in math.
How does our county compare?
In 2025, 35% of students in Lancaster County passed the PSSA Grade 8 Math exam, the same as in 2024, and slightly higher than the state rate of 31%.
In comparison, 20% of economically disadvantaged students in Lancaster County and 2% of English Language Learners passed the exam in 2025. Among racial and ethnic groups, 55% of Asian students and 43% of White students passed compared to 17% of Hispanic and 13% of African American students.
Amongst neighboring counties, Lancaster County had the fourth-highest proficiency rate among all students, following Cumberland (42%), Chester (38%), and Lebanon (36%). Lancaster had the third-highest performance rate among economically disadvantaged students, behind Cumberland (23%) and Lebanon (22%).
Why do these disparities exist?
There are a variety of factors believed to contribute to disparities in test scores and other measures of student achievement. School systems in the United States are highly segregated, and students of color disproportionately attend schools with high proportions of low-income students who may not have benefited from early learning opportunities at the same rate as other students. Schools also have different levels of resources ranging from qualified/experienced teachers to advanced courses to facilities and technology, and schools with large Black and Latino populations often have lower levels. In addition, teachers across all school systems tend to be disproportionately white, and teaching practices and curriculum may not be culturally relevant to students of color.
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.
Pennsylvania defines economically disadvantaged groups as students identified by their school district through Pennsylvania's student information system as experiencing economic disadvantage based on poverty-related records such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Census-poor status, foster or institutional placement, or eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals.
| All Students | Asian | Black or African American | Economically Disadvantaged | English Language Learners | Hispanic or Latino | White | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 31% | 61% | 10% | 16% | 6% | 13% | 37% |
| Lancaster County | 35% | 55% | 13% | 20% | 2% | 17% | 43% |
| Berks County | 26% | 16% | 13% | 1% | 9% | 38% | |
| Chester County | 38% | 79% | 8% | 15% | 4% | 15% | 41% |
| Cumberland County | 42% | 61% | 13% | 23% | 7% | 18% | 45% |
| Dauphin County | 22% | 38% | 6% | 10% | 2% | 9% | 32% |
| Lebanon County | 36% | 67% | 24% | 22% | 0% | 16% | 44% |
| York County | 31% | 64% | 16% | 19% | 4% | 15% | 36% |
| All Students | Asian | Black or African American | Economically Disadvantaged | English Language Learners | Hispanic or Latino | White | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 35,884 | 3,574 | 1,746 | 8,919 | 367 | 2,270 | 26,592 |
| Lancaster County | 1,520 | 56 | 24 | 406 | 4 | 150 | 1,167 |
| Berks County | 1,170 | 34 | 303 | 2 | 146 | 910 | |
| Chester County | 2,255 | 515 | 31 | 230 | 9 | 139 | 1,426 |
| Cumberland County | 994 | 170 | 19 | 189 | 4 | 30 | 713 |
| Dauphin County | 621 | 78 | 29 | 143 | 5 | 45 | 406 |
| Lebanon County | 492 | 16 | 4 | 146 | 0 | 60 | 390 |
| York County | 1,436 | 23 | 72 | 394 | 6 | 101 | 1,142 |
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten Participation | Increasing |
| Student Performance on Grade 3 English | Not Applicable |
| Student Performance on Grade 8 Math | Not Applicable |
| High School Cohort Graduation Rate | Increasing |
| Per-Student Spending | Maintaining |
| Students Receiving Special Education Services | Increasing |
| Rate of Foster Care Admissions | Maintaining |
| Disengaged Youth | Decreasing |
| Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| 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 |
