PA School Performance Profile: How Abington Compares

ABINGTON, PA — Results from the statewide Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) have been published by the Department of Education, and the results from Abington High School are very good.

The high school's overall academic score, which factors in test scores and school performance data from all categories, comes in at an above average mark of 90.4. It marks the fourth straight year in which the school has scored 89 or higher on the comprehensive analysis.

The high school's scores in all three main testing categories trended upwards in 2016-17. They scored 84 percent proficient in math (over 83 last year), 90 in literature (over 88 last year), and 82 in science (80 last year).

The assessment, done each year, gives each school a score of up to 100 using several factors, including test scores, student improvement from the past year, as well as graduation rates. The standardized tests measure student performance and help lawmakers understand progress in various school districts. The published test results analyze performance among the student body as a whole and among students in the "historically underperforming" category, which includes students with disabilities, English language learners, and those who come from an economically disadvantaged background.

Abington struggled the most in the "closing the achievement gap" categories, which represents how well the school is doing in improving the scores of historically underperforming students. Abington scored a 60 in math in this category and a 42 in literature, although they did earn a 100 in science.

Graduation rates at Abington remained very strong, coming in at 96 this year after 97 percent last year and 92 and 94 the two years before that.

See how Abington's overall academic score compared to area high schools below:

• Spring-Ford - 97.3
• North Penn - 89.9
• Phoenixville - 80.8
• Norristown - 68.8
• Hatboro-Horsham - 67.8

Standardized exams have been a point of contention in the state, especially over the past year. Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said that starting with the 2017-18 school year, required time to take the PSSA's would be decreased by two days.

"High-stakes testing does not tell the full story and the Department is taking several actions to better communicate student progress in our schools," Rivera added.

View the PA School Performance Profile database here.

Patch file photo