PA School Performance Profile: How North Penn Compares

LANSDALE, PA — Results from the statewide Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) have been published by the Department of Education, and the results from North Penn High School are interesting.

The high school's overall academic score, which factors in test scores and school performance data from all categories, comes in well above average at 89.9, an excellent score and higher than many schools around the region. However, this score marks a sharp drop from North Penn's score of 100.3 last year, 97.6 the year before, and 93.5 the year before that.

It's important to analyze the specific factors that led to North Penn's lower score, because the numbers should not be read to suggest the district as a whole is not at the level it was last year. Low scores in just one or two categories can significantly affect the overall mark - not unlike a student taking one of these tests.

The school dropped slightly in all three major testing categories, scoring 84, 87, and 85 percent proficiency in Math, Literature, and Science, respectively this year. Those numbers are down from 89, 91, and 88, respectively 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.

North Penn's worst marks and most drastic drops from last year came in the "closing the achievement gap" categories, which represents how well the school is doing in improving the scores of historically underperforming students. In 2015-16, the school excelled in this category, earning 100 for Math, Literature, and Science. However, in 2016-17, those numbers dropped to 0 for Math and 0 for Literature, while remaining at 100 for Science.

Graduation rates at North Penn did remain strong, coming in at 95 percent this year, similar to the last three years. SAT readiness also came in at 100 percent this year, as it has for three years.

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

• Spring-Ford - 97.3
• North Penn - 89.9
• Abington - 89.6
• 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.

Patch file photo