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West York Area SD highlights growth despite test dips in Future Ready Index presentation
Summary
District staff told the school board that while some proficiency measures dipped after statewide online testing, growth metrics show most West York students are making acceptable year-to-year gains; the district flagged middle-school math and science-waiver effects and announced an ATSI designation for the middle school.
District staff presented Pennsylvania’s Future Ready Index to the West York Area School Board on Feb. 10, saying the report shows mixed proficiency results but generally positive growth across buildings.
The presenter explained how the index is displayed — ‘‘blue’’ indicates meeting or exceeding statewide goals, ‘‘green’’ signals interim targets, and ‘‘red’’ indicates a shortfall — and said that while some ELA percentages were down and middle-school math lagged, ‘‘students are growing at a rate that is acceptable according to PDE,’’ reflecting year-to-year gains on the state growth metric.
The presentation noted that some apparent drops follow the state’s shift to fully online assessments. The presenter urged caution interpreting single-year proficiency because cohorts are reported later (for example, an eleventh-grade keystone reports work that began years earlier). Staff pointed to transient student populations and reclassification of English learners as factors that complicate cohort comparisons.
Board members pressed for disaggregated data and cohort breakdowns; staff said such breakdowns are possible but will take additional time. Trustees also asked for targeted follow-up on sixth-grade math, where the district saw persistent underperformance compared with state averages. The presenter said the district is reviewing the sixth-grade program and sharing feedback with curriculum providers.
The presentation closed with college-and-career readiness measures showing improvement, a five-year graduation rate near 95% with allowances for students with IEPs, and an ATSI (Additional Targeted Support and Improvement) designation for the middle school. Staff said they will develop a schoolwide plan for English learners in partnership with the intermediate unit and building leadership.
The board asked staff to return with more granular breakdowns and with any recommended interventions for sixth-grade math. The district did not present any formal motions tied to the data at the meeting.
