PA School Performance Profile: How Hatboro-Horsham Compares

HORSHAM, PA — Results from the statewide Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) have been published by the Department of Education, and the results from Hatboro-Horhsam High School are not good.

The high school's overall academic score, which factors in test scores and school performance data from all categories, comes in at a below average mark of 67.8. It marks a steep drop off from last year's average score of 74.8. It's far below where the school was at its height in 2013-14, when it earned a well above average 92.3.

It's important to analyze the specific factors that led to Hatboro-Horsham lower score, because the numbers should not be read to suggest the district as a whole is failing in some way. Low scores in just one or two categories can significantly affect the overall mark - not unlike a student taking one of these tests. However, marks for Hatboro-Horsham seemed to be down across the board this year.

The high school's scores in all three main testing categories dropped noticeably in 2016-17. The school tested at 76 percent proficiency for Math (down from 84 last year), 68 in Literature (83 last year), and 73 in Science (81 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.

Hatboro-Horsham 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. For the third year in a row, scores in this category remained at zero for Literature, while the Math score was a 0 for the second time in three years. Science was at 57 this year, after 100 last year.

On the bright side, graduation rates at Hatboro-Horsham remained very strong, coming in at 98.96 this year, higher than many of the district's neighbors.

See how Hatboro-Horsham compared to area high schools below:

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

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.

Patch file photo