Pennsylvania public schools still may be grappling with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, according to a national report on reading and math proficiency among fourth grade and eighth grade students.
The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress — released Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics — shows Pennsylvania’s fourth grade math and reading scores are each 6 percentage points lower than in 2019. Scores for the state’s eighth grade students are each 4 percentage points lower than in 2019.
The results on which the Pennsylvania scores for the Nation’s Report Card are based come from representative samples of test scores from students in public schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education.
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests and Keystone Exams are administered to eligible students in every public school in the state, said Erin James, press secretary for the state Department of Education.
For the PSSA tests administered in spring 2024, at least 50% of fourth grade students in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties scored proficient or higher in the math and English sections.
Eighth grade students performed similarly in the English category, but their math scores fell far short of that mark.
Less than 35% of Allegheny County eighth graders and about 29% of Westmoreland County eighth graders scored proficient or higher in the math category.
Penn-Trafford School District’s academic performance seems to have gone unscathed by the pandemic, according to Superintendent Matthew Harris.
Penn-Trafford’s 2024 PSSA and Keystone exam results landed the district in the top 3% of the state and the highest in Westmoreland County.
The scores are consistent with those prior to the pandemic, Harris said.
“(We’re) continuing to monitor data and instruction,” Harris said, “and (we’re) always looking for ways to improve to meet each and every child’s individual needs.”
While there is no doubt the pandemic negatively affects students across the state and country, Neil English, superintendent of the Riverview School District in Oakmont, said the district has managed to remain relatively stable in its test scores. Like every school district, Riverview has its goals, focus areas and test scores that it wants to improve, English said.
“One tool we have implemented to address learning gaps is a K-8 diagnostic in (English language arts) and math. This resource not only assesses the students’ knowledge of standards, but provides an individualized lesson pathway that is uniquely matched to their performance on the diagnostic,” English said. “Our real strength lies with our dynamic and experienced teaching staff, who support each student, tailor and adjust instruction based on strengths and stretches (weaknesses or challenges) and ensure that all Riverview students receive a student-centered education each and every day.”
The number of Pennsylvania school districts where the education progress tests were conducted was not available from Grady Wilburn, a spokesman for the U.S. Education Department. Wednesday’s report did not elaborate on the criteria used to determine which of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts were selected to have their students tested and why others were omitted.
Pittsburgh Public Schools students took the national test last year, but the results were not available, Wilburn said.
Wayne Walters, superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, could not be reached for comment.