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District analyst: Council Rock PSSA and Keystone scores remain strong; data will guide targeted supports
Summary
Data analyst Tom Barnes presented PSSA and Keystone score comparisons across Bucks County, noting Council Rock’s generally high rankings and calling for curriculum-aligned, standards-based interventions and built-in progress monitoring to reduce surprises and guide instruction.
Tom Barnes, the district data analyst, presented PSSA and Keystone results to the Education Committee Wednesday and urged using the scores as part of a standards-aligned approach to drive instruction and interventions.
Why it matters: the district’s comparison to other Bucks County districts shows Council Rock near the top on many measures for both general-education students and students with individualized education programs (IEPs). Barnes said building-level, standards-aligned measures and regular progress monitoring let teachers and administrators identify issues earlier in the year rather than waiting for state releases.
Key points: Barnes said the public-facing percentage figures reflect the share of students scoring in the proficient or advanced ranges. "The scores ... are the percentage of students who took that particular PSSA in that particular grade that scored in the advanced or proficient ranges," he said, explaining the presentation format.
Barnes said math and ELA results compare favorably with neighboring districts and highlighted encouraging results for students with IEPs in math and science in particular. He noted that small cohort sizes for IEP subgroups can cause larger year-to-year swings and that Keystone scores are course-level tests (for example, Algebra I, Biology, Literature) rather than grade-level tests.
Next steps and board questions: Barnes described plans to deliver building-level data and standards-aligned breakdowns to principals and curriculum leaders, and board members urged that the data be linked to specific programs — for example Knights for Knowledge and early literacy initiatives — so the district can evaluate program effectiveness and adjustments earlier in the year.
