Scale: % at or above proficient
Grade 3
Reading

77% (2011)

86% (2010)

82% (2009)

84% (2008)

65% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 77% in 2011.
Math

94% (2011)

93% (2010)

85% (2009)

93% (2008)

69% (2007)
The state average for Math was 84% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 4
Reading

80% (2011)

81% (2010)

80% (2009)

70% (2008)

75% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 73% in 2011.
Science

87% (2011)

89% (2010)

96% (2009)
The state average for Science was 83% in 2011.
Math

94% (2011)

89% (2010)

92% (2009)

73% (2008)

79% (2007)
The state average for Math was 85% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 5
Reading

79% (2011)

74% (2010)

64% (2009)

67% (2008)

61% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 67% in 2011.
Writing

73% (2011)

83% (2010)

58% (2009)

78% (2008)

55% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 67% in 2011.
Math

94% (2011)

85% (2010)

74% (2009)

79% (2008)

68% (2007)
The state average for Math was 76% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 6
Reading

78% (2011)

66% (2010)

80% (2009)

70% (2008)

66% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 70% in 2011.
Math

95% (2011)

82% (2010)

86% (2009)

73% (2008)

65% (2007)
The state average for Math was 79% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 7
Reading

77% (2011)

83% (2010)

70% (2009)

64% (2008)

77% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 76% in 2011.
Math

89% (2011)

84% (2010)

69% (2009)

61% (2008)

74% (2007)
The state average for Math was 79% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 8
Reading

87% (2011)

84% (2010)

78% (2009)

86% (2008)

81% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 82% in 2011.
Science

67% (2011)

56% (2010)

56% (2009)
The state average for Science was 58% in 2011.
Writing

71% (2011)

59% (2010)

76% (2009)

75% (2008)

66% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 73% in 2011.
Math

93% (2011)

77% (2010)

67% (2009)

80% (2008)

60% (2007)
The state average for Math was 77% in 2011.
Source: PA Dept. of Education, 2010-2011
Grade 11
Reading

69% (2011)

44% (2010)

46% (2009)

44% (2008)

37% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 69% in 2011.
Science

25% (2011)

10% (2010)

18% (2009)
The state average for Science was 41% in 2011.
Writing

84% (2011)

67% (2010)

84% (2009)

90% (2008)

87% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 85% in 2011.
Math

55% (2011)

23% (2010)

22% (2009)

24% (2008)

20% (2007)
The state average for Math was 60% 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