Parent & Family University Kickoff Tour! Find an event near you!
District Parents & Families: The 2024-25 Philly School Experience Survey is now open. Let your voice be heard! Take the Survey

Office Menu:

Category: assessments

An Analysis of the Act 158 Graduation Pathways Used by Graduating Seniors in 2022-23

An Analysis of the Act 158 Graduation Pathways Used by Graduating Seniors in 2022-23

Pennsylvania’s Act 158 created a statewide graduation requirement for all Pennsylvania high school students. Students who were in 12th grade during the 2022-23 school year were the first graduates who needed to satisfy the Act 158 requirements. This brief summarizes completion rates of the five pathways for this group of students.

Relationship Between Star Assessments and PSSA Performance, 2022-23

Relationship Between Star Assessments and PSSA Performance, 2022-23

The 2022-23 school year was the second year that the School District of Philadelphia used the suite of Star Assessments as universal screeners for reading and math for students in grades K-12. This report examines the statistical relationship between Star Reading, Star Math, and student performance on the PSSAs.

The When and How of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia

The When and How of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Education Research Consortium (PERC) study explores the “when and how” of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia, examining the timing of when students first take Keystone-associated courses, the share of students that pass those courses upon their first attempt, and the Keystone exam-taking patterns of those who pass and fail those courses.

A Summary of District-Wide Assessments Administered to SDP Students During the 2022-23 School Year

A Summary of District-Wide Assessments Administered to SDP Students During the 2022-23 School Year

This brief provides a summary of the major assessments administered in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and student participation in these assessments during the 2022-23 school year.

Keystone Performance Trends in SDP: 2018-19 to 2022-23

Keystone Performance Trends in SDP: 2018-19 to 2022-23

The Keystone exams are end-of-year standardized state assessments typically administered to Pennsylvania students in grades 8-11 as they near completion of the associated English, Algebra, or Biology course. This brief describes annual Keystone exam performance trends between the 2018-19 (pre-Covid) and 2022-23 school years.

PSSA Performance by Primary Disability Category, 2022-23

PSSA Performance by Primary Disability Category, 2022-23

This data brief reports on 2022-23 PSSA performance for SDP students who qualify for special education services and have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP). Results are summarized by primary disability category.

PSSA Performance Trends in SDP:  2018-19 to 2022-23

PSSA Performance Trends in SDP: 2018-19 to 2022-23

At the School District of Philadelphia, PSSA performance is the focus for three of the five goals adopted by the Board of Education. This data brief describes District-wide trends in PSSA performance between the 2018-19 (pre-Covid) and 2022-23 school years.

2022-23 PSSA Results for District Students Show Improvements in Math and Science, Stability for ELA; Keystone Results Show Declines in Algebra and Biology but Improvement in Literature

2022-23 PSSA Results for District Students Show Improvements in Math and Science, Stability for ELA; Keystone Results Show Declines in Algebra and Biology but Improvement in Literature

On November 8, 2023 PDE published the results of the state standardized tests administered in the 2022-23 school year. Statewide results show mixed results for ELA, with improvement from 2022 for 3rd grade but declines for 7th and 8th grades. PSSA math and science scores improved over 2022 for all grades across Pennsylvania. Although proficiency rates for SDP students are lower than statewide rates, SDP students’ year-over-year results align with the statewide results; we see overall signs of post-pandemic improvement, especially in grades 3-8 math and science.

End of Year Analysis of Participation and Performance on the Star Assessments at the School District of Philadelphia: 2022-23

End of Year Analysis of Participation and Performance on the Star Assessments at the School District of Philadelphia: 2022-23

Since the 2021-22 school year, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) has administered Star assessments as a universal screener and progress monitoring tool for all grades, K-12. This report summarizes findings on participation, performance, and growth across Fall and Spring Star testing windows in 2022-23, with comparisons to 2021-22 outcomes and details on performance of different student groups. A report addendum extends the analyses to focus on the relationship between attendance and student performance on Star assessments.

English Learner Performance on the 2021-22 ACCESS, Star Reading, and Star Math Assessments

English Learner Performance on the 2021-22 ACCESS, Star Reading, and Star Math Assessments

The ACCESS assessment is administered to English Learners (ELs) annually each winter to measure their progress toward English proficiency. Star Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs) are a suite of assessments administered 3-4 times during the school year to students in grades K-12 that measure students’ reading and math skills, monitor achievement and growth, and track how well students understand skills aligned to state and Common Core standards. Although some ELs are excused from participation in Star, most take Star Reading and Math. This report examines EL performance on the ACCESS and EL performance on Star within the context of ACCESS performance.