(Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series on local PSSA results.)

Pennsylvania’s System of School Assessment (PSSA) results for 2021 have been released. Due to the learning loss resulting from COVID-19, these results cannot be compared to those of previous years, according to state officials.

Below we take a look at the results for Elk County. The test results are divided into four categories: advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. Due to space considerations, the statistics for the two most common of the four possible groups are shown for various schools.

At South St. Marys Street Elementary School, Grade 3 results showed that in ELA, students were 50.6% proficient and 24.1% basic, while in Math, they were 36.7% proficient and 21.5% basic.

Grade 4 results for ELA were 40.2% proficient, 28.4% basic; Math was 35.3% proficient, 26.5% basic and Science was 42.6% proficient, 41.6% basic.

For Grade 5, ELA results were 49.3% proficient, 37% basic and Math results were 35.6% proficient, 32.9% basic.

At St. Marys Area Middle School, Grade 6 results for ELA showed students were 43.8% proficient, 38% basic and for Math, students were 44.6% basic, 31.4% below basic.

Grade 7 results were as follows: ELA 48.4% basic, 39.8% proficient; Math 53.9% below basic, 30.5% basic.

For Grade 8, results were: ELA 46.4% proficient, 37.7% basic; Math 52% below basic, 33.3% basic and Science 38.4% proficient, 26.5% basic.

At Fox Township Elementary, results were:

Grade 3: ELA 45.8% proficient, 29.2% basic; Math 50% proficient, 25% advanced.

Grade 4: ELA 48.1% proficient, 25.9% basic; Math 34.6% proficient, 34.6% basic; Science 66.7% proficient, 25.9% advanced

Grade 5: ELA 47.8% basic, 39.1% proficient; Math 34.8% basic, 34.8% below basic.

At Bennetts Valley Elementary, results were as follows:

Grade 3: ELA 46.2% proficient, 30.8% basic; Math 38.5% basic, 46.2% below basic.

For Grade 4, only 10 students were tested, a decrease of 33% from 2019. Therefore, no results were shared for ELA, Math or Science.

Grade 5: ELA 52.9% proficient, 23.5% basic, 23.5% below basic; Math 52.9% proficient, 29.4% below basic.

For Francis Grandinetti Elementary:

Grade 3: ELA 45.5% proficient, 21.8% basic; Math 36.4% advanced, 23.6% below basic.

Grade 4: ELA 50% proficient, 25% advanced; Math 45.8% basic, 27.1% proficient and Science 63.3% proficient, 23.3% advanced.

Grade 5: ELA 57.6% proficient, 28.8% basic; Math 36.2% proficient, 29.3% basic.

Results for Ridgway Area Middle school were:

Grade 6: ELA 45.8% proficient, 33.9% advanced; Math 44.1% proficient, 23.7% basic.

Grade 7: ELA 50% proficient, 39.7% basic; Math 32.8% basic, 29.3% below basic.

Grade 8: ELA 55.9% proficient, 27.1% basic, Math 36.2% below basic, 32.8% basic and Science 35.6% proficient, 23.7% below basic.

Ridgway Area School District Superintendent Heather McMahon-Vargas stated via social media, “Prior to the 19-20 school year, Ridgway held the belief that student test results are a snapshot of a moment in time, in which we capture a fraction of what a student is capable of or has learned through their school experience, to that point. We believed then and we continue to believe now, that students and staff grow if we meet them where they are, not at some arbitrary state wide 2030 goal.”

McMahon-Vargas recognized the “disruption to public education, specifically in person instruction” due to COVID-19, calling it “monumental.” However, she noted that Ridgway performed above statewide performance averages in nearly all tested subject areas provided there was a sufficient sample tested.

“I am extremely proud of our students’ performance on both the PSSAs and Keystones. I am proud of our dedicated and compassionate staff’s efforts throughout the most challenging of times in education and society. I am grateful for the support from our families and those that care about our children in our community.”

Results for Johnsonburg Area Elementary are as follows:

Grade 3: ELA 60.5% proficient, 21.1% basic; Math 48.6% proficient, 21.6% advanced.

Grade 4: ELA 62.2% proficient, 16.2% basic, 16.2% advanced; Math 35.1% proficient, 35.1% basic and Science 56.8% advanced, 29.7% proficient.

Grade 5: ELA 45% basic, 42.5% proficient; Math 50% basic, 25% below basic.

Grade 6: ELA 60.6% proficient, 27.3% basic; Math 45.5% basic, 21.2% proficient

At Johnsonburg Area HS:

Grade 7: ELA 48.8% basic, 41.9% proficient; Math 37.2% basic, 37.2% below basic, 18.6% proficient.

Grade 8: ELA 45.2% proficient, 42.9% basic; Math 43.2% basic, 38.6% below basic; Science 39.5% proficient, 20.9% basic.