Page 85 - 2017academicreport

Table of Contents

PSSA SCIENCE

Results and Findings
● Pine-Richland students outperformed the state average of students scoring proficient and advanced on
the PSSA Science assessment in both the 4th and 8th Grade.
o When comparing the percent of students scoring in the combined proficient and advanced
category, Pine-Richland 4th Grade students (94.2%) outperformed the top decile benchmark
representing the top 10% of schools in Pennsylvania (94.0%).
o The aggregate percentage of Pine-Richland 8th Grade students (71.0%) performing at the
combined proficient and advanced range was just below the PA Top Decile representing the top
10% of schools in Pennsylvania (72.4%).

● The percentage of male and female students at the advanced and proficient levels were found to be
stable over the past four years within Grade 4.

● Pine-Richland students with an IEP in Grades 4 (73.1%) performed nearly commensurate with the
overall performance of all Pennsylvania students (74.6%), both without and with IEPs, in the combined
advanced/proficient category.

● The analysis of student performance by PA Science Assessment Anchors helps us understand areas of
relative strength and need with a higher level of meaning. While there are several relative strengths, the
opportunities for improvement include:
o Grade 4

▪ S.A.3 Nature of Science

● Systems, Models, and Patterns

▪ S4.B.3 Biological Sciences

● Ecological Behavior and Systems

▪ S.D.1-2 Earth and Space Sciences

● Earth Features and Processes that Change Earth and its Resources
● Weather, Climate, and Atmospheric Processes

o Grade 8

▪ S8.B.3 Biological Sciences

● Ecological Behavior and Systems

▪ S8.C.2-3 Physical Sciences

● Forms, Sources, Conversions, and Transfer of Energy
● Principles of Force and Motion

▪ S8.D.1-2 Earth and Space Sciences

● Earth Features and Processes that Change Earth and its Resources
● Weather, Climate, and Atmospheric Processes

● The 2017 PVAAS District Value-Added Report for grade 4 indicates “significant evidence that the
district did not meet the standard for PA Academic Growth” (i.e., red) in quintiles 1,2,3 and 5. The
value-added growth measures for 2015 and 2016 for Grade 4 were also red; however, on the 2017
administration, students in quintile 4 do show “evidence that the students met the growth standard”. The

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