Scale: % at or above proficient
Grade 3
Reading

83% (2011)

64% (2010)

81% (2009)

50% (2008)

70% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 77% in 2011.
Math

86% (2011)

75% (2010)

78% (2009)

60% (2008)

77% (2007)
The state average for Math was 84% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 4
Reading

49% (2011)

46% (2010)

45% (2009)

49% (2008)

47% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 73% in 2011.
Science

51% (2011)

50% (2010)

46% (2009)
The state average for Science was 83% in 2011.
Math

66% (2011)

63% (2010)

54% (2009)

70% (2008)

63% (2007)
The state average for Math was 85% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 5
Reading

48% (2011)

44% (2010)

33% (2009)

22% (2008)

27% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 67% in 2011.
Writing

48% (2011)

30% (2010)

47% (2009)

17% (2008)

12% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 67% in 2011.
Math

62% (2011)

56% (2010)

58% (2009)

45% (2008)

50% (2007)
The state average for Math was 76% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 6
Reading

54% (2011)

50% (2010)

26% (2009)

44% (2008)

37% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 70% in 2011.
Math

65% (2011)

61% (2010)

36% (2009)

44% (2008)

49% (2007)
The state average for Math was 79% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 7
Reading

62% (2011)

50% (2010)

46% (2009)

52% (2008)

37% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 76% in 2011.
Math

54% (2011)

53% (2010)

58% (2009)

57% (2008)

45% (2007)
The state average for Math was 79% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 8
Reading

55% (2011)

92% (2010)

78% (2009)

57% (2008)

55% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 82% in 2011.
Science

9% (2011)

0% (2010)

22% (2009)
The state average for Science was 58% in 2011.
Writing

22% (2011)

60% (2010)

42% (2009)

29% (2008)

36% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 73% in 2011.
Math

33% (2011)

40% (2010)

49% (2009)

48% (2008)

33% (2007)
The state average for Math was 77% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
About the Tests
- In 2010-2011 Pennsylvania used the Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in math and reading, in grades 5, 8 and 11 in writing, and in grades 4, 8 and 11 in science.
- The results for reading, writing, science and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles.
- The PSSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Pennsylvania.
- The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.
Testing in Pennsylvania: An Overview
See Pennsylvania's state standards