PA School Performance Profile: How West Chester Schools Compare

WEST CHESTER, PA — Results from the statewide Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) have been published by the Department of Education, and the results from West Chester High School are very good - with a caveat.

All three West Chester high schools earned comparable, above-average overall academic scores, which factors in test scores and school performance data from all categories. East scored 89.9, Rustin 88.4, , and Henderson 85.8.

However, these scores were down notably from previous years. East's last three years of scores have been 90, 95, and 95. Rustin's last three years of scores have been 95, 98, and 96. Henderson's have been 90, 92, and 98.

East led the way this year in Math at 91 percent proficient, followed by Henderson (90) and Rustin (89). Henderson led in Literature (89) to Rustin's 86 and East's 83. Henderson also led in Science with 87, followed by Rustin's 86 and East's 84.

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.

All three schools struggled the most in the same "closing the achievement gap" category, which represents how well the school is doing in improving the scores of historically underperforming students. In Literature testing, the three high schools earned a zero, despite underperforming students earning near perfect marks in both Math and Science.

Graduation rates at all three high schools remained very strong: Rustin at 97 percent, East at 96, Henderson at 95.

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

• Spring-Ford - 97.3
• 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