Children And Education
Students Receiving Special Education Services

Increasing


Students Receiving Special Education Services

What does this measure?

Percent of students (ages 6-21) classified with disabilities and receiving special education services.

Why is this important?

Students receiving special education services can be at greater risk for poor school performance, including lower test scores and a higher chance of dropping out. The proportion of students in special education can significantly affect a school district's budget, as some students may require intensive services. This proportion also can be an indicator of the effectiveness of intervention programs aimed at addressing problems in early years and preventing students from being classified with disabilities.

How does our county compare?

In 2023, 21% of Lancaster County students and 23% of Lancaster School District students received special education services, an increase of 4 percentage points for the County and 2 percentage points for the School District from 2010 figures. These rates were similar to the state (at 21%) which has seen an increase of 5 percentage points since 2010. Lancaster County and Lancaster School District had higher proportions than the nation, at 15%.

Berks County had a slightly higher proportion of students receiving special education services in 2023 at 24%. Lancaster County was similar to Lebanon (21%), Chester (20%), Dauphin (22%), York and Cumberland (both 18%).

Notes about the data

Data are from the National Center for Education Statistics. Varying school district practices on classifying students as having disabilities can impact the numbers. Also, school districts known for effective special education programs may attract more students with disabilities.

Students Receiving Special Education Services
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania17%16%17%17%17%17%18%18%19%19%20%20%20%21%
Lancaster County17%16%16%16%16%16%17%17%18%18%19%20%19%21%
Berks County18%18%18%19%19%19%20%20%21%22%23%23%23%24%
Chester County17%17%17%17%17%18%18%18%19%19%19%19%19%20%
Cumberland County16%15%15%15%15%15%15%15%15%16%17%17%17%18%
Dauphin County17%17%17%17%16%17%17%18%18%19%20%19%19%22%
Lebanon County16%17%17%17%18%18%19%19%20%20%20%20%20%21%
York County16%16%16%16%16%16%17%17%17%18%18%18%18%18%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics




Number of Students Receiving Special Education Services
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania294,592295,077294,963295,501294,997296,959302,540310,244319,733326,985338,355337,846342,042357,917
Lancaster County11,31011,04410,85610,94310,99711,06011,21611,72812,24112,38712,71812,58012,58013,631
Berks County12,48312,69112,92212,93613,02613,11613,29113,63714,09914,85315,33115,05915,05915,921
Chester County12,80513,57813,39813,52313,92714,06614,12414,53815,12915,74515,75916,24516,24517,280
Cumberland County3,9373,8373,8793,8843,8773,9773,9644,0154,0854,3684,6204,6164,6165,082
Dauphin County7,1567,1867,1547,1717,3267,4187,5698,0818,4619,1339,99311,88111,88114,389
Lebanon County3,0473,1273,2033,3363,3633,5173,6503,7673,8513,9343,9593,8923,8924,140
York County11,10211,09910,94310,66410,94210,86711,30811,24011,55311,86412,00311,68411,68412,443

Source: National Center for Education Statistics




INDICATORS TREND
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Not Applicable
Per-Student Spending Not Applicable
Students Receiving Special Education Services Not Applicable
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Not Applicable
College Graduation Rates Not Applicable
Brain Drain/Gain Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Charitable Giving Not Applicable
Voter Registration Rate Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Not Applicable
Age of Housing Stock Not Applicable
Violent Crime Rate Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population Density Not Applicable
Air Quality Not Applicable
Water Use Not Applicable
Waterways Impaired by Pollution Not Applicable
Change in Population Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Not Applicable
Language Diversity Not Applicable
Change in Total Jobs Not Applicable
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2010 Not Applicable
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Change in Number of Businesses by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Total Agricultural Sales Not Applicable
Spending for Local Government Not Applicable
Spending for School Districts Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Veterans Living in Poverty Not Applicable
Working Poor Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Below ALICE Threshold Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Stable Household Budget Cost Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance Not Applicable
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Not Applicable
Median Home Value Not Applicable
Occupied Housing Units Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Renting Not Applicable
Households Without Vehicles Not Applicable
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Health Status Not Applicable
Rate of Depression Diagnosis Not Applicable
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Mortality Rates Not Applicable
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Fatal Drug Overdoses Not Applicable
Cancer Incidence Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Not Applicable
STEM Graduates Not Applicable
Science and Engineering Research and Development Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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