Part two

The Northampton Area School District Academic Report 2023-24 gives a snapshot of student test performance.

Part one, published Dec. 12, 2024, in Northampton Press and available on the Northampton Press website, looked at Keystone Exam test results. Keystone Exams, given in grades 7-11, are intended to assess a student’s proficiency in algebra I, literature and biology.

Part two looks at Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test results. PSSA is an annual assessment administered in classrooms in grades 3-8 in the subjects of English language arts (ELA), mathematics and science.

The 2024 PSSA test results indicate a drop in results for middle school, especially for grade 8.

The 2023-24 academic report was presented by NASD administrators to school directors and the public at the NASD Board of Education meeting Dec. 2, 2024.

Presenting the NASD academic report were NASD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michelle Schoeneberger, NASD Secondary Curriculum Supervisor Scott Oste, NASD Elementary Curriculum Supervisor Katie Trach and Northampton Area High School Principal Luke Shafnisky.

The 2024 PSSA results in NASD by building are:

Lehigh Elementary

ELA: 66

Mathematics: 65

Science: 92

Moore Elementary

ELA: 61

Mathematics: 53

Science: 91

George Wolf Elementary

ELA: 51

Mathematics: 52

Science: 90

Borough Elementary

ELA: 56

Mathematics: 54

Science: 85

Northampton Area Middle School

ELA: 46

Mathematics: 28

Science: 51

District

ELA: 53

Mathematics: 42

Science: 70

State

ELA: 53

Mathematics: 40

Science: 66

A comparison of the 2024 PSSA results building-by-building indicates consistent scores in the same range for ELA, mathematics and science for the elementary schools but a dip in these scores for the middle school.

For example, the ELA score of 53 at the middle school is 20 points less than the ELA score of 66 for Lehigh Elementary. The mathematics score of 42 at the middle school is lower than the math score of 65 for Lehigh Elementary. The science score of 51 at the middle school is 40 points less than the science score of 92 for Lehigh Elementary.

The year-to-year PSSA results indicate more consistent results in each of the test subject scores.

ELA: 53.3 in 2022-23; 53 in 2023-24

Mathematics: 41.0 in 2022-23; 42 in 2023-24

Science: 76.0 in 2022-23; 70 in 2023-24

An analysis of longitudinal data in PSSA results indicates grade-to-grade and year-to-year declines, especially in eighth grade:

ELA

• 2022: grade 3, 64%; grade 4, 65%; grade 5, 63%; grade 6, 47%; grade 7, 57%; grade 8, 52%

• 2023: grade 3, 51%; grade 4, 59%; grade 5, 57%; grade 6, 55%; grade 7, 43%; grade 8, 46%

• 2024: grade 3, 54%; grade 4, 60%; grade 5, 63%; grade 6, 52%; grade 7, 51%; grade 8, 39%

Mathematics

• 2022: grade 3, 58%; grade 4, 55%; grade 5, 43%; grade 6, 24%; grade 7, 32%; grade 8, 20%

• 2023: grade 3, 57%; grade 4, 63%; grade 5, 48%; grade 6, 30%; grade 7, 23%; grade 8, 23%

• 2024: grade 3, 55%; grade 4, 58%; grade 5, 58%; grade 6, 39%; grade 7, 28%; grade 8, 18%

Science

• 2022: grade 4, 88%; grade 8, 57%

• 2023: grade 4, 89%; grade 8, 65%

• 2024: grade 4, 90%; grade 8, 52%

PSSA is a standards-based assessment that provides students, parents, educators and citizens with an understanding of student and school performance related to the attainment of proficiency of academic standards.

According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website, “Individual student scores ... can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may be in need of additional educational opportunities, and school scores provide information to schools and districts for curriculum and instruction improvement discussions and planning.”