What does this measure?
The percentage of students considered proficient or advanced on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Grade 8 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?
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. 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 2024, 35% of students in Lancaster County and 13% of Lancaster City School District students passed the PSSA Grade 8 Math exam, up 5 percentage points for the County and 1 percentage point for the District from 2023. In contrast, 20% of historically underperforming students in Lancaster County and 12% of historically underperforming students in the Lancaster City School District passed the exam in 2024, an increase of 5 percentage point in the County and 2 percentage points in the District from 2023. Lancaster County's 2024 proficiency rates were slightly higher than statewide rates of 15% for historically underperforming and 29% for all students.
Amongst neighboring counties, Lancaster County had the third-highest proficiency rate among all students, following Chester (37%) and Cumberland (36%), and has the highest performance rate among historically underperforming students, followed by Cumberland (17%), Lebanon (16%), Chester and York (both 15%), Berks (12%) and Dauphin (10%).
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.
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 29% | 15% |
Lancaster County | 35% | 20% |
Lebanon County | 31% | 16% |
York County | 28% | 15% |
Dauphin County | 22% | 10% |
Cumberland County | 36% | 17% |
Chester County | 37% | 15% |
Berks County | 24% | 12% |
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 33,375 | 9,695 |
Lancaster County | 1,499 | 463 |
Lebanon County | 432 | 124 |
York County | 1,329 | 367 |
Dauphin County | 573 | 154 |
Cumberland County | 785 | 173 |
Chester County | 2,184 | 319 |
Berks County | 1,083 | 316 |
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 |