Education

As PSSA scores improve, educators still work to improve results

By Britney Milazzo

Updated October 28, 2016 12:02 AM

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment scores were released earlier this month.

And the local trend is a similar one to the state as a whole.

The 2016 PSSA data indicates more students scored proficient or advanced than in the previous year, in almost all categories. Those statistics, however, didn’t take into consideration factors such as changing school population.

While Centre County schools also are primarily seeing growth — largely with those students who tested at the advanced levels — many school administrators said there is still room for improvement.

It is our intent to grow each student everyday through quality interactions with our teachers.

Bob O’Donnell

State College Area School District Superintendent

“It is our intent to grow each student every day through quality interactions with our teachers,” State College Area School District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell said. “As students grow in terms of skills and achievement, scores on items such as standardized tests will also improve as a result. Our expectation is that our teachers get to know their students as learners and deliver our curriculum on a daily basis through the use of effective instructional strategies.”

The standardized test scores also attribute to growth of Pennsylvania Value-added Assessment System — a ranking for individual schools based on test scores.

The growth measures, on a 50- to 100-point scale, were derived from state standardized test scores, which include the PSSA and Keystone exams.

A growth rate of 50, according to PDE, “indicates significant evidence that the achievement level of the group of students was not maintained.”

Only eight areas of testing at various schools in the State College Area School District were rated a 50 by PDE.

It included math scores at Easterly Parkway, Ferguson Township, Houserville and Lemont, Mount Nittany and Park Forest elementary schools; and science scores at Ferguson Township and Mount Nittany elementary schools and Park Forest Middle School.

A rate index of a 75 indicates at least one year’s worth of growth, and 100 indicates a significant level of growth, according to the PDE report.

State College Area schools rounded out the growth rates from a 53- to 100-point rating for the remainder of its testing areas at schools.

“Because our mission pertains to the future success of students, we also prioritize understanding results that directly relate to student access to future opportunities,” O’Donnell said. “When cross-referencing this information with our local assessment results, this information helps us to better align curriculum to our local priorities and our state’s standards.”

On the other hand, O’Donnell said he hopes the state would better release data that allows administrators to see the more specific testing items or tasks students struggled with.

The PSSAs

PSSA exams are administered in third to eighth grades in math and English language arts. Fourth- and eighth-grade students are also tested in science.

The test also reflects PA Core Standards defined by the state as a higher level of rigor.

There was an initial dip in scores when PA Core Standards rolled out in the 2014-15 school year, but data from PDE showed an increment of growth since.

We can see with the results and our improvement we have chosen the right curriculum and are moving in the right direction.

Jim Orichosky

Wingate Elementary School Principal

“We can see with the results and our improvement we have chosen the right curriculum and are moving in the right direction,” Wingate Elementary School Principal Jim Orichosky said.

The Bald Eagle Area School District, which Wingate Elementary is one of four elementary schools in, spurred extra training for teachers last school year.

Howard Elementary School teacher Amber Buchanan was one of the teachers in the district who was certified to train others on how to teach to the test in multiple areas.

BEA, overall, according to results from the state, improved in every area of testing.

That included numerous growth levels in the high 80 and 90 ratings, and at least one school that was rated a 100 in growth points for a portion of the exam that attributes to the schools’ PVAAS scores.

But one element is still missing at the district.

“One of the biggest things our test scores show is we need to really take serious the need for quality preschools in the area,” Orichosky said. “We have seen studies coming out of Penn State that show quality preschools and early intervention help test scores for elementary students.”

Cen-Clear Child Services offer preschool-type programs at schools in the district but who can join is limited.

Still, a trend among educators at BEA is to “provide well-rounded education,” Howard Elementary School Principal Skip Pighetti said.

It’s a similar theme at Penns Valley Area, which spokesman Nate Althouse said is to “improve learning, not test scores.”

If we can improve the effectiveness with which we teach our content, the natural byproduct should be improved test scores.

Nate Althouse

Penns Valley Area district spokesman

“We do try to ensure that the standards evaluated in the tests are covered in the classroom prior to our students taking the test, so the timing of when we teach each standard during the school year is important,” Althouse said. “We have also recently conducted a curriculum audit to ensure there is a congruence between the content being taught and the methods of delivery and evaluation in our classrooms. If we can improve the effectiveness with which we teach our content, the natural by-product should be improved test scores.”

Still, administrators said they believe test scores are not a full indication of a student’s success or failure.

“Education is much more than an assessment that provides only a snapshot on that particular day or week,” BEA Superintendent Jeff Miles said. “As a district, we strive to focus on the entire child ... to help them become not only successful individuals in the workforce, but also contributing citizens to our community.”

Britney Milazzo: 814-231-4648, @M11azzo

PSSA/KEYSTONE SCORES: BALD EAGLE AREA		2015	2016
HOWARD ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	36.4	35.3
	% Proficient	36.4	35.3
	% Basic	27.3	29.4
	% Below basic	0.0	0.0

Math	% Advanced	27.3	52.9
	% Proficient	36.4	29.4
	% Basic	27.3	17.6
	% Below basic	9.1	0.0

Science	% Advanced	45.5	52.9
	% Proficient	36.4	41.2
	% Basic	18.2	5.9
	% Below basic	0.0	0.0

MOUNTAINTOP AREA ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	29.6	33.3
	% Proficient	48.1	42.9
	% Basic	22.2	23.8
	% Below basic	0.0	0.0

Math	% Advanced	11.1	33.3
	% Proficient	48.1	28.6
	% Basic	37.0	38.1
	% Below basic	3.7	0.0

Science	% Advanced	63.0	57.1
	% Proficient	37.0	42.9
	% Basic	0.0	0.0
	% Below basic	0.0	0.0

PORT MATILDA ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	15.8	21.1
	% Proficient	31.6	36.8
	% Basic	42.1	31.6
	% Below basic	10.5	10.5

Math	% Advanced	14.3	36.8
	% Proficient	23.8	21.1
	% Basic	42.9	36.8
	% Below basic	19.0	5.3

Science	% Advanced	42.9	63.2
	% Proficient	38.1	36.8
	% Basic	14.3	0.0
	% Below basic	4.8	0.0

WINGATE ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	7.4	7.5
	% Proficient	44.4	31.3
	% Basic	37.0	50.7
	% Below basic	11.1	10.4

Math	% Advanced	20.4	24.2
	% Proficient	25.9	25.8
	% Basic	37.0	25.8
	% Below basic	16.7	24.2

Science	% Advanced	40.7	34.8
	% Proficient	42.6	40.9
	% Basic	11.1	15.2
	% Below basic	5.6	9.1

BALD EAGLE AREA JR/SR HIGH (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	12.9	22.3
	% Proficient	48.5	33.9
	% Basic	33.3	32.2
	% Below basic	5.3	11.6

Math	% Advanced	2.3	10.7
	% Proficient	26.3	23.1
	% Basic	42.1	38.8
	% Below basic	29.3	27.3

Science	% Advanced	27.3	27.3
	% Proficient	34.1	33.1
	% Basic	27.3	22.3
	% Below basic	11.4	17.4

BALD EAGLE AREA JR/SR HIGH (GRADE 11)
Literature	% Advanced	8.4	9.7
	% Proficient	71.76	77.6
	% Basic	14.5	10.4
	% Below basic	5.34	2.2

Algebra I	% Advanced	4.65	10.9
	% Proficient	68.22	70.1
	% Basic	19.38	14.6
	% Below basic	7.75	4.4

Biology	% Advanced	7.69	17.6
	% Proficient	63.85	60.3
	% Basic	15.38	17.6
	% Below basic	13.08	4.4

BELLEFONTE AREA		2015	2016
BELLEFONTE ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	18.2	21.3
	% Proficient	37.9	36.1
	% Basic	30.3	36.1
	% Below basic	13.6	6.6

Math	% Advanced	24.6	21.3
	% Proficient	30.8	39.3
	% Basic	27.7	14.8
	% Below basic	16.9	24.6

Science	% Advanced	53.8	37.7
	% Proficient	27.7	42.6
	% Basic	7.7	11.5
	% Below basic	10.8	8.2

BENNER ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	39.4	33.3
	% Proficient	36.4	39.6
	% Basic	15.2	25.0
	% Below basic	9.1	2.1

Math	% Advanced	36.4	33.3
	% Proficient	42.4	47.9
	% Basic	12.1	14.6
	% Below basic	9.1	4.2

Science	% Advanced	69.7	62.5
	% Proficient	21.2	31.3
	% Basic	6.1	6.3
	% Below basic	3.0	0.0

MARION-WALKER ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	25.4	32.6
	% Proficient	41.3	51.2
	% Basic	25.4	16.3
	% Below basic	7.9	0.0

Math	% Advanced	22.2	46.5
	% Proficient	25.4	39.5
	% Basic	34.9	9.3
	% Below basic	17.5	4.7

Science	% Advanced	50.8	55.8
	% Proficient	38.1	39.5
	% Basic	7.9	2.3
	% Below basic	3.2	2.3

PLEASANT GAP ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	30.6	21.2
	% Proficient	47.2	54.5
	% Basic	13.9	21.2
	% Below basic	8.3	3.0

Math	% Advanced	21.6	27.3
	% Proficient	37.8	51.5
	% Basic	27.0	15.2
	% Below basic	13.5	6.1

Science	% Advanced	54.1	51.5
	% Proficient	32.4	39.4
	% Basic	2.7	3.0
	% Below basic	10.8	6.1

BELLEFONTE AREA MIDDLE (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	21.9	18.6
	% Proficient	47.3	41.0
	% Basic	24.9	31.9
	% Below basic	6.0	8.5

Math	% Advanced	8.5	8.0
	% Proficient	28.9	26.6
	% Basic	40.3	34.0
	% Below basic	22.4	31.4

Science	% Advanced	36.2	24.6
	% Proficient	36.7	40.1
	% Basic	16.6	13.9
	% Below basic	10.6	21.4

BELLEFONTE AREA HIGH (GRADE 11)
Literature	% Advanced	10.73	7.1
	% Proficient	66.1	65.4
	% Basic	19.77	23.1
	% Below basic	3.39	4.4

Algebra I	% Advanced	21.35	18.0
	% Proficient	51.12	47.8
	% Basic	22.47	25.8
	% Below basic	5.06	8.4

Biology	% Advanced	15.82	22.2
	% Proficient	46.33	46.7
	% Basic	29.38	22.2
	% Below basic	8.47	8.9

CHARTER SCHOOLS		2015	2016
CENTRE LEARNING COMMUNITY CHARTER (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	4.2	33.3
	% Proficient	37.5	42.9
	% Basic	45.8	19
	% Below basic	12.5	4.8

Math	% Advanced	12.5	9.5
	% Proficient	25.0	28.6
	% Basic	16.7	28.6
	% Below basic	45.8	33.3

Science	% Advanced	33.3	38.1
	% Proficient	29.2	33.3
	% Basic	20.8	19
	% Below basic	16.7	9.5

WONDERLAND CHARTER		(GRADE 3)	(GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	18.8	33.3
	% Proficient	56.3	46.7
	% Basic	18.8	13.3
	% Below basic	6.3	6.7

Math	% Advanced	6.3	0.0
	% Proficient	25.0	26.7
	% Basic	37.5	26.7
	% Below basic	31.3	46.7

Science	% Advanced	n/a	53.3
	% Proficient	n/a	33.3
	% Basic	n/a	13.3
	% Below basic	n/a	0.0

YOUNG SCHOLARS OF CENTRAL PA CHARTER (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	13.2	43.2
	% Proficient	42.1	21.6
	% Basic	39.5	35.1
	% Below basic	5.3	0.0

Math	% Advanced	15.8	27.8
	% Proficient	28.9	41.7
	% Basic	42.1	19.4
	% Below basic	13.2	11.1

Science	% Advanced	52.6	61.1
	% Proficient	42.1	27.8
	% Basic	2.6	11.1
	% Below basic	2.6	0.0

PENNS VALLEY AREA		2015	2016
CENTRE HALL-POTTER ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	12.1	22.2
	% Proficient	42.4	51.1
	% Basic	39.4	22.2
	% Below basic	6.1	4.4

Math	% Advanced	18.2	31.1
	% Proficient	39.4	26.7
	% Basic	24.2	22.2
	% Below basic	18.2	20

Science	% Advanced	48.5	57.8
	% Proficient	45.5	35.6
	% Basic	3.0	6.7
	% Below basic	3.0	0

MILES TOWNSHIP ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	5.9	10.5
	% Proficient	41.2	31.6
	% Basic	29.4	31.6
	% Below basic	23.5	26.3

Math	% Advanced	5.9	5.3
	% Proficient	47.1	15.8
	% Basic	11.8	36.8
	% Below basic	35.3	42.1

Science	% Advanced	58.8	21.1
	% Proficient	29.4	36.8
	% Basic	11.8	21.1
	% Below basic	0.0	21.1

PENNS VALLEY ELEMENTARY/INTERMEDIATE (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	45.2	25.5
	% Proficient	31.0	37.3
	% Basic	19.0	33.3
	% Below basic	4.8	3.9

Math	% Advanced	42.9	27.5
	% Proficient	31.0	35.3
	% Basic	14.3	31.4
	% Below basic	11.9	5.9

Science	% Advanced	71.4	56.9
	% Proficient	16.7	43.1
	% Basic	0.0	0.0
	% Below basic	11.9	0.0

PENNS VALLEY AREA JR/SR HIGH (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	11.1	26.5
	% Proficient	43.6	35.7
	% Basic	35.9	32.7
	% Below basic	9.4	5.1

Math	% Advanced	5.2	15.5
	% Proficient	21.6	24.7
	% Basic	37.1	33.0
	% Below basic	36.2	26.8

Science	% Advanced	28.4	27.8
	% Proficient	35.3	34.0
	% Basic	21.6	23.7
	% Below basic	14.7	14.4

PENNS VALLEY AREA JR/SR HIGH (GRADE 11)
Literature	% Advanced	7.95	24.1
	% Proficient	84.09	62.1
	% Basic	6.82	10.3
	% Below basic	1.14	3.4

Algebra I	% Advanced	20.93	32.8
	% Proficient	59.3	48.3
	% Basic	17.44	12.9
	% Below basic	2.33	6.0

Biology	% Advanced	38.37	42.2
	% Proficient	34.88	36.2
	% Basic	17.44	14.7
	% Below basic	9.3	6.9

PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA AREA		2015	2016
OSCEOLA MILLS ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	19.5	35.0
	% Proficient	39.0	30.0
	% Basic	26.8	26.7
	% Below basic	14.6	8.3

Math	% Advanced	22.0	38.3
	% Proficient	36.6	21.7
	% Basic	19.5	21.7
	% Below basic	22.0	18.3

Science	% Advanced	39.0	46.7
	% Proficient	43.9	38.3
	% Basic	12.2	8.3
	% Below basic	4.9	6.7

PHILIPSBURG ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	15.4	23.2
	% Proficient	33.8	39.0
	% Basic	40.0	34.1
	% Below basic	10.8	3.7

Math	% Advanced	16.9	20.7
	% Proficient	27.7	34.1
	% Basic	38.5	26.8
	% Below basic	16.9	18.3

Science	% Advanced	30.8	39.0
	% Proficient	47.7	40.2
	% Basic	18.5	14.6
	% Below basic	3.1	6.1

PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA MIDDLE (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	1.6	5.9
	% Proficient	22.5	39.8
	% Basic	58.9	39.8
	% Below basic	17.1	14.4

Math	% Advanced	1.6	6.7
	% Proficient	13.2	14.3
	% Basic	41.9	31.1
	% Below basic	43.4	47.9

Science	% Advanced	19.4	20.2
	% Proficient	34.1	35.3
	% Basic	20.9	22.7
	% Below basic	25.6	21.8

PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA HIGH (GRADE 11)
Literature	% Advanced	3.39	9.3
	% Proficient	68.64	68.6
	% Basic	17.8	12.8
	% Below basic	10.17	9.3

Algebra I	% Advanced	5.04	9.2
	% Proficient	58.82	58.6
	% Basic	29.41	27.6
	% Below basic	6.72	4.6

Biology	% Advanced	28.57	39.5
	% Proficient	36.97	31.4
	% Basic	20.17	20.9
	% Below basic	14.29	8.1
STATE COLLEGE AREA		2015	2016
CORL STREET ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	42.9	55.3
	% Proficient	42.9	26.3
	% Basic	11.4	13.2
	% Below basic	2.9	5.3

Math	% Advanced	42.9	55.3
	% Proficient	28.6	31.6
	% Basic	25.7	5.3
	% Below basic	2.9	7.9

Science	% Advanced	65.7	63.2
	% Proficient	25.7	28.9
	% Basic	8.6	2.6
	% Below basic	0.0	5.3

EASTERLY PARKWAY ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	35.7	38.5
	% Proficient	35.7	33.3
	% Basic	25.0	25.6
	% Below basic	3.6	2.6

Math	% Advanced	29.8	28.2
	% Proficient	24.6	17.9
	% Basic	28.1	35.9
	% Below basic	17.5	17.9

Science	% Advanced	44.8	35.9
	% Proficient	36.2	51.3
	% Basic	13.8	7.7
	% Below basic	5.2	5.1

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	36.5	56.6
	% Proficient	44.6	28.3
	% Basic	14.9	11.3
	% Below basic	4.1	3.8

Math	% Advanced	28.4	56.6
	% Proficient	37.8	15.1
	% Basic	17.6	18.9
	% Below basic	16.2	9.4

Science	% Advanced	63.5	64.2
	% Proficient	32.4	24.5
	% Basic	4.1	3.8
	% Below basic	0.0	7.5

GRAY’S WOODS ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	42.2	40.7
	% Proficient	43.8	39.0
	% Basic	9.4	16.9
	% Below basic	4.7	3.4

Math	% Advanced	39.1	42.4
	% Proficient	39.1	32.2
	% Basic	18.8	16.9
	% Below basic	3.1	8.5

Science	% Advanced	68.8	62.7
	% Proficient	26.6	28.8
	% Basic	3.1	3.4
	% Below basic	1.6	5.1

HOUSERVILLE/LEMONT \ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	31.3	42.2
	% Proficient	44.8	26.7
	% Basic	19.4	28.9
	% Below basic	4.5	2.2

Math	% Advanced	37.3	28.9
	% Proficient	31.3	37.8
	% Basic	22.4	17.8
	% Below basic	9.0	15.6

Science	% Advanced	68.7	51.1
	% Proficient	19.4	37.8
	% Basic	9.0	6.7
	% Below basic	3.0	4.4

MOUNT NITTANY ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	32.8	45.1
	% Proficient	42.6	33.3
	% Basic	16.4	21.6
	% Below basic	8.2	0.0

Math	% Advanced	21.3	15.7
	% Proficient	29.5	33.3
	% Basic	32.8	39.2
	% Below basic	16.4	11.8

Science	% Advanced	49.2	45.1
	% Proficient	32.8	45.1
	% Basic	11.5	5.9
	% Below basic	6.6	3.9

PARK FOREST ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	37.9	40.3
	% Proficient	43.9	31.3
	% Basic	13.6	26.9
	% Below basic	4.5	1.5

Math	% Advanced	30.3	16.4
	% Proficient	34.8	43.3
	% Basic	25.8	25.4
	% Below basic	9.1	14.9

Science	% Advanced	61.8	49.3
	% Proficient	23.5	32.8
	% Basic	8.8	13.4
	% Below basic	5.9	4.5

RADIO PARK ELEMENTARY (GRADE 4)
English language arts	% Advanced	35.6	52.7
	% Proficient	52.5	30.9
	% Basic	10.2	14.5
	% Below basic	1.7	1.8

Math	% Advanced	55.0	47.4
	% Proficient	33.3	24.6
	% Basic	3.3	21.1
	% Below basic	8.3	7.0

Science	% Advanced	73.0	66.7
	% Proficient	22.2	28.1
	% Basic	4.8	3.5
	% Below basic	0.0	1.8

MOUNT NITTANY MIDDLE (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	27.9	29.9
	% Proficient	46.6	49.1
	% Basic	20.1	17.9
	% Below basic	5.5	3.1

Math	% Advanced	15.9	23.1
	% Proficient	34.1	24.0
	% Basic	26.8	28.0
	% Below basic	23.2	24.9

Science	% Advanced	40.5	39.7
	% Proficient	30.9	34.4
	% Basic	15.9	14.7
	% Below basic	12.7	11.2

PARK FOREST MIDDLE (GRADE 8)
English language arts	% Advanced	19.6	21.7
	% Proficient	54.2	48.2
	% Basic	22.2	24.1
	% Below basic	4.0	6.0

Math	% Advanced	20.5	27.5
	% Proficient	31.1	30.3
	% Basic	32.6	20.3
	% Below basic	15.8	21.9

Science	% Advanced	40.2	34.0
	% Proficient	36.2	36.8
	% Basic	13.8	12.4
	% Below basic	9.8	16.8

STATE COLLEGE AREA HIGH (GRADE 11)
Literature	% Advanced	14.57	22.1
	% Proficient	69.29	65.7
	% Basic	12.8	10.0
	% Below basic	3.35	2.2

Algebra I	% Advanced	45.28	54.3
	% Proficient	39.88	32.7
	% Basic	11.95	10.0
	% Below basic	2.89	2.9

Biology	% Advanced	45.24	55.6
	% Proficient	37.28	34.1
	% Basic	12.43	6.3
	% Below basic	5.05	3.9

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 8:24 PM with the headline "As PSSA scores improve, educators still work to improve results."

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