School

Test Results Show City Students Make Progress

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― New test results are showing that students in the Pittsburgh Public School District are making substantial progress in their education.

At a press conference, Superintendent Mark Roosevelt announced the results of the 2007-2008 PSSA tests.

The "Pennsylvania System of School Assessment" tests measure how students are meeting academic standards in reading and mathematics. They identify what a student should know and be able to do at different grade levels.

"It's necessary for all students, all teachers, all staff, the entire central office to step up," said Dr. Shemeca Crenshaw, of Westinghouse High School. "We have to increase student achievement and time waits for no one."

The latest measures show remarkable gains in reading and math proficiency in 13 of the 14 exam areas.

Those strong gains were seen across all grade levels. Officials say advanced students got even better in reading and math, while the number of students performing below basic levels was reduced.

Also, there was a marked reduction in the disparity between African American and white students.

Many schools were in the spotlight. Those include nine elementary schools, which had more than a 10 point increase in third grade reading proficiency. They are Arlington, Vann, Manchester, Weil, Sunnyside, Beechwood, King, West Liberty and Fulton.

Also sharing the spotlight for greatest improvements in advanced reading and math were Dilworth, Manchester, Morrow, Whittier, Liberty, Greenfield and Weil.

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