Media
Four of Five Philadelphia Students Not Proficient in Reading or Math
Yesterday, the National Center for Education Statistics (part of the U.S. Department of Education) released district perfomance data on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This is part of the “Nation’s Report Card” provided biannually.
The results for Philadelphia (the only Pennsylvania city participating) are disturbing (or should be).
Fewer than 20 percent of Philadelphia students in 4th or 8th grade made proficiency in reading or math. Performance among low-income students fared even worse. That is, four of every five students don’t reach proficient levels. Philadelphia’s performance ranks worse than the rest of the nation, even in comparison to other large cities.
The status quo simply is not good enough.
| NAEP School Performance 2011 | ||
| 4th Grade | % Proficient or Advanced | |
| Schools (Public) | Reading | Math |
| Philadelphia | ||
| All Students | 14% | 20% |
| White | 27% | 43% |
| Black | 9% | 12% |
| Hispanic | 10% | 16% |
| Free Lunch Eligible | 11% | 17% |
| All Large Cities (All Students) | 23% | 30% |
| Nation (All Students) | 32% | 39% |
| 8th Grade | % Proficient or Advanced | |
| Schools (Public) | Reading | Math |
| Philadelphia | ||
| All Students | 16% | 18% |
| White | 37% | 32% |
| Black | 13% | 13% |
| Hispanic | 9% | 10% |
| Free Lunch Eligible | 13% | 15% |
| All Large Cities (All Students) | 23% | 26% |
| Nation (All Students) | 32% | 34% |
| Source: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/districts/ | ||
Here are the snapshots for Philadelphia public schools:
Mathematics: Grade 4
Mathematics: Grade 8
Reading: Grade 4
Reading: Grade 8