PA School Performance Profile: How Plymouth-Whitemarsh Compares

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — Results from the statewide Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) have been published by the Department of Education, and the results from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School are excellent.

PW earned an elite overall academic score of 96.6. The score factors in test scores and school performance data from all categories.

It's marks a significant improvement over 2015-16's score of 88.7, and over the score of 90.5 the year before that.

PW improved in all three major testing categories in 2016-17, including an 88 percent proficiency in Math (85 last year), 89 in Literature (88 last year), and 87 in Science (82 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.

PW did struggle in the "closing the achievement gap" category, which represents how well the school is doing in improving the scores of historically underperforming students. Their grades were 61 in Math and 65 in Literature, although they did excel with a 100 in Science.

Graduation rates at Wissahickon remained very high as well, at 97 percent, following up rates of 98 from the last two years.

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

• Wissahickon - 100.7
• Spring-Ford - 97.3
• Plymouth-Whitemarsh - 96.6
• North Penn - 89.9
• West Chester East - 89.9
• Abington - 89.6
• West Chester Rustin - 88.4
• West Chester Henderson - 85.8
• 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