The percentage of students considered proficient or advanced on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Grade 3 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.
Development of early math skills is an important part of elementary schooling and a foundation for continuing progress in not only math, but also science and related subjects. 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 2018, 48% of students in Berks County scored as proficient or advanced on the PSSA Grade 3 Math exam, lower than in 2017 at 51%. In comparison, 31% of historically underperforming students in Berks County passed the exam, down slightly from 35% in 2017. Berks County's 2018 proficiency rate was below the statewide rate for both groups (which was 54% for all students and 38% for all students).
Among local school districts, Wilson had the highest 2018 proficiency rate for both groups with 74% for all students and 67% for historically underperforming students, followed by Brandywine Heights Area (71% for all, 53% for historically underperforming) and Hamburg (70% for all, 66% for historically underperforming). Reading had the lowest proficiency rate at 18% proficiency for all students and 17% for historically underperforming. Reading also had the highest share of historically underperforming students at 97% of test takers.
Berks County's proficiency rate for both historically underperforming students and its students as a whole was lower than all the comparison counties, despite Berks' share of historically underperforming students being lower than Lehigh (61%). Proficiency for historically underperforming students in comparison counties ranged from 37% (in Lebanon and Schuylkill) to 47% (in Montgomery), while proficiency for all students ranged from 51% (in Schuylkill) to 67% (in Montgomery).
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.
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All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 54% | 38% |
Berks County | 48% | 31% |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | ||
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 66% | 38% |
Lancaster County | 56% | 40% |
Lebanon County | 55% | 37% |
Lehigh County | 55% | 40% |
Montgomery County | 67% | 47% |
Schuylkill County | 51% | 37% |
School Districts | ||
Exeter Township School District | 52% | 34% |
Fleetwood Area School District | 60% | 38% |
Governor Mifflin School District | 50% | 33% |
Hamburg Area School District | 70% | 66% |
Kutztown Area School District | 66% | 44% |
Muhlenberg School District | 43% | 35% |
Antietam School District | 36% | 34% |
Oley Valley School District | 59% | 37% |
Reading School District | 18% | 17% |
Boyertown Area School District | 63% | 45% |
Schuylkill Valley School District | 63% | 48% |
Brandywine Heights Area School District | 71% | 53% |
Tulpehocken Area School District | 67% | 46% |
Conrad Weiser Area School District | 61% | 41% |
Twin Valley School District | 65% | 39% |
Daniel Boone Area School District | 45% | 30% |
Wilson School District | 74% | 67% |
Wyomissing Area School District | 70% | 54% |
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 66,307 | 26,774 |
Berks County | 2,249 | 874 |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | ||
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 3,857 | 798 |
Lancaster County | 2,647 | 1,005 |
Lebanon County | 780 | 283 |
Lehigh County | 1,938 | 849 |
Montgomery County | 5,336 | 1,474 |
Schuylkill County | 624 | 259 |
School Districts | ||
Exeter Township School District | 144 | 36 |
Fleetwood Area School District | 97 | 22 |
Governor Mifflin School District | 144 | 51 |
Hamburg Area School District | 91 | 53 |
Kutztown Area School District | 50 | 12 |
Muhlenberg School District | 113 | 64 |
Antietam School District | 26 | 19 |
Oley Valley School District | 67 | 17 |
Reading School District | 226 | 209 |
Boyertown Area School District | 323 | 103 |
Schuylkill Valley School District | 92 | 26 |
Brandywine Heights Area School District | 72 | 21 |
Tulpehocken Area School District | 66 | 23 |
Conrad Weiser Area School District | 90 | 28 |
Twin Valley School District | 152 | 36 |
Daniel Boone Area School District | 98 | 27 |
Wilson School District | 97 | 51 |
Wyomissing Area School District | 90 | 30 |
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 49% | 31% |
Berks County | 46% | 28% |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | ||
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 62% | 32% |
Lancaster County | 55% | 38% |
Lebanon County | 50% | 32% |
Lehigh County | 48% | 32% |
Montgomery County | 62% | 42% |
Schuylkill County | 47% | 34% |
School Districts | ||
Daniel Boone Area School District | 53% | 32% |
Wilson School District | 64% | 53% |
Wyomissing Area School District | 68% | 39% |
Exeter Township School District | 56% | 37% |
Fleetwood Area School District | 54% | 36% |
Governor Mifflin School District | 54% | 34% |
Hamburg Area School District | 61% | 39% |
Kutztown Area School District | 48% | 26% |
Muhlenberg School District | 45% | 33% |
Antietam School District | 46% | 40% |
Oley Valley School District | 58% | 55% |
Reading School District | 17% | 17% |
Boyertown Area School District | 61% | 41% |
Schuylkill Valley School District | 48% | 29% |
Brandywine Heights Area School District | 50% | 37% |
Tulpehocken Area School District | 74% | 57% |
Conrad Weiser Area School District | 50% | 35% |
Twin Valley School District | 63% | 40% |
All Students | Historically Underperforming | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 60,775 | 21,733 |
Berks County | 2,226 | 778 |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | ||
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 3,754 | 724 |
Lancaster County | 2,638 | 918 |
Lebanon County | 689 | 232 |
Lehigh County | 1,728 | 691 |
Montgomery County | 4,837 | 1,312 |
Schuylkill County | 646 | 255 |
School Districts | ||
Daniel Boone Area School District | 132 | 28 |
Wilson School District | 107 | 41 |
Wyomissing Area School District | 83 | 16 |
Exeter Township School District | 152 | 36 |
Fleetwood Area School District | 100 | 28 |
Governor Mifflin School District | 133 | 39 |
Hamburg Area School District | 99 | 26 |
Kutztown Area School District | 40 | 9 |
Muhlenberg School District | 109 | 51 |
Antietam School District | 35 | 21 |
Oley Valley School District | 61 | 16 |
Reading School District | 227 | 227 |
Boyertown Area School District | 345 | 87 |
Schuylkill Valley School District | 73 | 14 |
Brandywine Heights Area School District | 49 | 13 |
Tulpehocken Area School District | 70 | 25 |
Conrad Weiser Area School District | 87 | 26 |
Twin Valley School District | 144 | 29 |
INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
---|---|
Quality Early Childhood Centers | Not Applicable |
Prekindergarten Participation | ![]() |
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch | ![]() |
English Language Learners | ![]() |
Students Receiving Special Education Services | ![]() |
Per Student Spending | ![]() |
Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 3 English | ![]() |
Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 3 Math | ![]() |
Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 8 English | ![]() |
Historically Underperforming Student Performance on Grade 8 Math | ![]() |
Student Performance on High School English | ![]() |
Student Performance on High School Math | ![]() |
High School Cohort Graduation Rate | ![]() |
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity | ![]() |
Brain Drain/Gain | ![]() |
Plans of High School Graduates | ![]() |