Achieve Data Profile: Pennsylvania April 2006

2 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK The Big Picture n To be successful in today’s economy, all students will need education and training that go beyond the high school diploma. How successful is your state in moving students successfully through the education pipeline? NOTE: All figures in this presentation are rounded to the nearest percent. Rounding errors may occur when figures are compared. Also please note that all bar graphs that are empty or labeled #N/A are not available due to non-participation or small sample size.

3 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How many 9 th graders make it to, and through, college? Source: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Policy Alert, April Data are estimates of pipeline progress rather than actual cohort.

4 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How many young adults earn degrees? *Median of top five states based on sum of lower and upper bar. Source: National Information Center for Higher Education, Data are from U.S. Census for 25 to 34 year olds.

5 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Is educational attainment improving?

6 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Elementary School - Assessments n The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a common test taken by a sample of students in every state, making it a reliable yardstick for comparing achievement through elementary school. n Comparing the percentage of 4th graders scoring at or above Proficient on NAEP with those deemed proficient on state tests reveals a much lower proficiency standard on most state tests.

7 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are elementary school students achieving “proficiency” in math? *Median of top five states in percent proficient or advanced. Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

8 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are elementary school students achieving “proficiency” in reading? *Median of top five states in percent proficient or advanced. Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

9 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are there inequities in math achievement in Pennsylvania? Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

10 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK …in reading achievement in Pennsylvania? Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

11 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Is there a gap between achievement on state assessments and NAEP? Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from and 2005 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) results at No 4th grade test in 2005.

12 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Middle School n Students who take challenging courses and meet high standards in middle school are much more likely to enter high school ready to succeed. Algebra is widely recognized as a “gateway” course—students who take it by the end of 8th grade are much more likely to take rigorous courses in high school that lead to a college degree.

13 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are students taking “gateway” courses? * Median of top five states. Source: Analysis of data from

14 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are students taking “gateway” courses in Pennsylvania? Source: Analysis of data from

15 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are more students taking gateway courses over time? *Includes students taking Algebra, Algebra 2 or Geometry. ** Median of top five improvers.

16 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Middle School – Assessments n The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a common test taken by a sample of students in every state, making it a reliable yardstick for comparing achievement through middle school. n Comparing the percentage of 8th graders scoring at or above Proficient on NAEP with those deemed proficient on state tests reveals a much lower proficiency standard on most state tests.

17 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are middle school students achieving “proficiency” in math? *Median of top five states in percent proficient or advanced. Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

18 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are middle school students achieving “proficiency” in reading? *Median of top five states in percent proficient or advanced. Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

19 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Is math achievement improving?

20 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Is reading achievement improving? +7

21 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Is there a gap between achievement on state assessments and NAEP? Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from and 2005 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) results at

22 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Middle School – Achievement Gap n In most states, there is an achievement gap that separates African American, Latino and Native American students from White and Asian students. How large is that gap in your state? How successful has your state been in closing it over time?

23 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are there inequities in math achievement in Pennsylvania? Have gaps narrowed? African American AsianLatino Native American White Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

24 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK …in reading achievement in Pennsylvania? African American AsianLatino Native American White Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from

25 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK High School n Research has shown that a powerful predictor of whether high school students will graduate and earn a college degree is the rigor of the high school curriculum they complete. Advanced Placement (AP) exams show how many students are taking challenging courses and attempting to earn college credit while still in high school.

26 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are students participating in AP courses? * Median of top five states. Source: Analysis of data from College Board AP Summary Reports for 2004 and NCES Common Core of Data. Includes public school students only.

27 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are there inequities in AP participation in Pennsylvania? Source: Analysis of data from College Board AP Summary Reports for 2004 and NCES Common Core of Data. Includes public school students only.

28 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are more students participating in AP over time?

29 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK High School – State Assessments n All states have high school assessments that students take by the 10th or 11th grade. In almost half of the states, students must pass these tests in order to graduate. Are students who pass the high school tests truly prepared for success in college or work? Few states have designed their high school assessments to answer whether passing students are prepared for success in college and work.

30 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How do students perform on state math tests? Source: 2005 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) results at

31 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How do students perform on state English tests? Source: 2005 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) results at

32 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK High School – Graduating on Time n Nationwide, nearly 30% of high school students don’t graduate on time, and the figures are much lower for disadvantaged minority students than for White and Asian students. Without a high school diploma, students’ chances for success in college or the workplace are severely restricted.

33 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How many high school students graduate on time? * Median of top five states. Source: Manhattan Institute, April 2006, Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates.

34 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are graduation rates equitable in Pennsylvania? Source: Manhattan Institute, April 2006, Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates.

35 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Postsecondary Attainment n Earning a postsecondary credential has become increasingly important in today’s economy, and some states have made significant gains in college going rates. College admission is only the first step. A quarter of college freshmen will not return for their sophomore year. Only slightly more than half of students in 4-year colleges earn a degree within six years.

36 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How many high school students enroll in college the following fall? * Median of top five states. Source: Tom Mortenson, Postsecondary Opportunity

37 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are more high school graduates enrolling immediately in college over time?

38 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How many persist to sophomore year at 4-year colleges? * Median of top five states. Source: Source: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Measuring Up 2004,

39 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK …at 2-year colleges? * Median of top five states. Source: Source: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Measuring Up 2004,

40 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are college retention rates improving over time?

41 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK How many graduate from college? * Median of top five states. Source: Unpublished data provided by National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Data are from federal IPEDS survey.

42 AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK Are college graduation rates equitable in Pennsylvania? Source: Unpublished data provided by National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Data are from federal IPEDS survey.

Achieve Data Profile: Pennsylvania April 2006