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Fewer county students meet state ELA standards

Third- through eighth-graders in the Warren County School District aren’t as proficient in English language arts as their peers statewide. Results of 2024 PSSA testing released late last year show statewide proficiency is more than 50% in all grade levels statewide – 55.8% for third graders, 51.4% for fourth graders, 52.2% for fifth graders, 53% for sixth graders, 53.4% for seventh graders and 52.2% for eighth graders. Warren County’s proficiency rates are lower in all grades – 38.6% for third graders, 29% for fourth graders, 47.3% for fifth graders, 43.7% for sixth graders, 39.4% for seventh graders and 39.8% for eighth graders. Warren County School District students also saw proficiency in ELA decreased 4.9% from 2023 to 2024, with the only proficiency gains seen in district fifth graders. Proficiency decreased 5.4% for third graders, 11.1% for fourth graders, 2.3% for sixth graders, 6.6% for seventh graders and 7.3% for eighth graders. Tidioute Community Charter School saw higher proficiency on the ELA tests than the Warren County School District, with 55% of its total student body proficient compared to 39.8% of Warren County School District students. Building proficiency at Beaty-Warren Middle School decreased 3.2% from 2023 to 2024, though fifth graders were included in Warren Area Elementary School in the 2024 tests – which skews building totals for Warren-Beaty and Warren Area Elementary School. Eisenhower saw 4.3% higher proficiency among its elementary school students in 2024, though middle school proficiency decreased 6.1%. Sheffield elementary school proficiency decreased 8.2% from 2023 to 2024 while the school’s middle school ELA proficiency increased 1.2%. Warren Area Elementary School’s proficiency rate decreased 13.9%. Tidioute Community Charter School students saw a 3% gain in ELA proficiency from 2023 to 2024. Student test results are grouped into four categories. Students deemed advanced show a mastery of the material while students deemed proficient demonstrate a strong grasp of the subject matter and can apply their knowledge effectively. Students grouped into the basic level show a limited understanding of the material and struggle to apply their knowledge effectively while students categorized as below basic show little understanding and minimal display of the skills included in the PA Academic Content Standards. The way the state administers school testing will be changing over the next couple of years. In November Gov. Josh Shapiro announced a three-part plan to update the state’s standardized testing system, including starting online testing over the next two years, adopting question types that allow students to use methods they are already familiar with – such as drag and drop, sorting and ranking, and graphic manipulation – and developing a free, optional benchmark assessment tool for schools to help educators better understand whether students are on track to succeed on end-of-year exams. “I’ve made it a point to listen to the voices of students, teachers, and parents in my Administration, and I’ve heard loud and clear how much of a burden standardized tests can be.,” Shapiro said. “The changes I’m announcing today will reduce that burden, shorten the amount of time students spend taking tests, and ensure schools get results faster so they can give students the support they need to succeed. Together, we can ensure that when our kids go to school they’re doing less testing and more learning.”

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