Academic Results
PSSA Assessment Data: A Historic View
Chester Community Charter School Students Achieved AYP for the third year in a row. Results from 2010-2011 PSSA Testing demonstrates a 13.6% Increase, over last year, in students who are Advanced or Proficient in math and reading in grades three through eight. Read Full Story >
Assessment is an integral part of instruction at the Chester Community Charter School. We continually strive to use assessment data to give us a better understanding of how our students are performing when compared against other students on across the state and locally.
Comparisons of our students’ academic progress are provided annually through the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). In addition to the statewide annual test, we have our own in-house testing program that gives us a running picture of where our students stand relative to state standards at any moment in time. This allows us to establish monthly benchmarks and monitor students progress at achieving them on an individual basis.
This report contains the following information: (1) 2011 PSSA results of CCCS and Local School Districts; (2) academic performance of our African-American students on the PSSA compared with that of African-American students statewide; (3) our students’ academic growth over time as measured by the PSSA (2001 to 2011).
NOTE: In 2001, the state reported students’ PSSA results in terms of Performance-Level Descriptors (see chart below). The goal of No Child Left Behind was twofold; first, to increase the percentage of children performing at Proficient or Advanced levels, and, second, to decrease the percentage of children performing Below Basic. CCCS has done both.
Pennsylvania's General Performance Level Descriptors*
- Advanced: The Advanced Level reflects superior academic performance. Advanced work indicates an in-depth understanding and exemplary display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.
- Proficient: The Proficient Level reflects satisfactory academic performance. Proficient work indicates a solid understanding and adequate display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.
- Basic: The Basic Level reflects marginal academic performance. Basic work indicates a partial understanding and limited display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. This work is approaching satisfactory performance, but has not been reached.
There is a need for additional instructional opportunities and/or increased student academic commitment to achieve the Proficient Level. - Below Basic: The Below Basic Level reflects inadequate academic performance. Below Basic work indicates little understanding and minimal display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. There is a major need for additional instructional opportunities and/or increased student academic commitment to achieve the Proficient Level.
*Source: PA Department of Education, Pre-K-12, Assessment, http://www.pde.state.pa.us.
2011 PSSA results of CCCS and Local School Districts
The following charts illustrate CCCS’ PSSA results compared to Chester Upland School District. The tests measure proficiency in math and reading for grades three through eight. The percentages represent the students who are at or above proficiency levels. CCCS outscored Chester Upland in grades 3-8 and William Penn School District in grades 3-7.
*Information provided by www.education.state.pa.us
2011 PSSA results of African-American students at CCCS and Statewide
The charts below show that African-American students at CCCS tested higher than African-American students statewide in both math and reading (with the exception of 8th grade reading).
*Information provided by www.education.state.pa.us
CCCS students’ academic growth from 2001-2011, as measured by the PSSA
This chart demonstrates the drastic improvement that CCCS students have experienced since our doors first opened in 2001.
*Information provided by www.education.state.pa.us
