Scale: % at or above proficient
Grade 3
Reading

59% (2011)

50% (2010)

51% (2009)

53% (2008)

61% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 77% in 2011.
Math

66% (2011)

60% (2010)

59% (2009)

55% (2008)

63% (2007)
The state average for Math was 84% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 4
Reading

57% (2011)

58% (2010)

61% (2009)

39% (2008)

63% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 73% in 2011.
Science

57% (2011)

41% (2010)

60% (2009)
The state average for Science was 83% in 2011.
Math

76% (2011)

76% (2010)

70% (2009)

57% (2008)

74% (2007)
The state average for Math was 85% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 5
Reading

71% (2011)

59% (2010)

49% (2009)

42% (2008)

56% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 67% in 2011.
Writing

41% (2011)

37% (2010)

41% (2009)

35% (2008)

58% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 67% in 2011.
Math

74% (2011)

56% (2010)

60% (2009)

48% (2008)

61% (2007)
The state average for Math was 76% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 6
Reading

76% (2011)

52% (2010)

40% (2009)

64% (2008)

45% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 70% in 2011.
Math

89% (2011)

63% (2010)

54% (2009)

54% (2008)

52% (2007)
The state average for Math was 79% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 7
Reading

68% (2011)

61% (2010)

72% (2009)

62% (2008)

42% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 76% in 2011.
Math

68% (2011)

59% (2010)

60% (2009)

62% (2008)

29% (2007)
The state average for Math was 79% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 8
Reading

59% (2011)

79% (2010)

68% (2009)

55% (2008)

66% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 82% in 2011.
Science

7% (2011)

19% (2010)

28% (2009)
The state average for Science was 58% in 2011.
Writing

40% (2011)

35% (2010)

58% (2009)

28% (2008)

82% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 73% in 2011.
Math

60% (2011)

69% (2010)

65% (2009)

22% (2008)

42% (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