Academic Achievement
The first annual report was compiled in the fall of 2013 to reflect student performance on a variety of standardized measures. This public display of standardized test results provides the highest levels of transparency. The format of the report has evolved over the course of the past decade. Major shifts in focus include: emphasis on both achievement and growth; top decile comparisons where available; expanded focus on measures of learning; and a focus on data for action. The Annual Achievement and Growth Report (AAGR) and In-Depth Program Review (IDPR) processes are both designed to analyze performance with further connection to the building-specific strategic plan focus areas.
High Level Findings
In comparison to the state average and top decile benchmark, PRSD students are performing at high levels on the PSSA and Keystone Exams.
- PRSD students performed in the top decile in ten of fourteen PSSA tested areas (consistent with 2023 results).
- PRSD students performed in the top decile in all three Keystone Exam tested areas (consistent with 2023 results).
- PRSD students met or exceeded the PVAAS growth standard in seven of twelve PSSA tested areas (increase from 2023 results).
- PRSD students met or exceeded the PVAAS growth standard in all three Keystone Exam tested areas (consistent with 2023 results).
For both the PSSA and Keystone Exams, PRSD students in special education with an IEP at levels similar to the state proficiency average of general education students.
For both the PSSA and Keystone Exams, PRSD students who are economically disadvantaged scored at or above the state proficiency average of general education students in almost all tests.
For both the PSSA and Keystone Exams, PRSD students performed at generally consistent levels across gender with some performance differences noted for subgroups based on ethnicity.
- Female PRSD student and male PRSD student performance is generally consistent with some areas of discrepancy focus (e.g., ELA PSSA and Keystone Literature Exam).
- Given the small number of students in some groups, performance is generally consistent with some focus on differences at the individual student level/subgroup (e.g., ELL and ethnic diversity).
In comparison to state and global performance, PRSD students outperformed benchmarks and achieved at near historic levels on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
In comparison to state and national averages, PRSD students outperformed benchmarks and achieved at near historic levels on the American College Test (ACT).
Over 1000 Advanced Placement (AP) exams were taken by PRSD students with the highest ever percentage of students scoring 3 or higher on the required exams.
Targets for Achievement and Growth
Achievement data for Pine-Richland students is compared generally to other students in the state and particularly to students scoring in the top decile (e.g. top 10% of public schools in Pennsylvania). For achievement goals, performance within the top decile is the most relevant and challenging comparator group. These comparisons provide a context for understanding how well we are educating our students.
Growth data is provided to each school district, based on the PSSA and Keystone Exams, by the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS). “Growth” as defined by PVAAS, is “the relative change in achievement for a group of students from one point in time to the next” and is measured by “ the difference between expected achievement and actual achievement for a group of students” (PVAAS SAS Website, 2024) using normal curve equivalents (NCEs) to compare current performance to estimate the average NCE change for a group of students. Our growth target is to ensure evidence of meeting the growth standard for each group of students (e.g. meets, above, well above).
Stretch Goals
- Goal #1: Achieve within the top decile (e.g. top 10%) of public schools within Pennsylvania.
- Goal #2: Make at least one year’s growth (e.g. meets, above, well above)
Archives
- 2023 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2022 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2021 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2020 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2019 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2018 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2017 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2016 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2015 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2014 Academic Achievement and Growth Report
- 2013 Academic Achievement and Growth Report