PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress show that nationally, students have not fully rebounded from the pandemic, and that's the case in Philadelphia, too.
Philly students notched small gains in reading and math, but the city still trails most urban districts in the school assessment known as The Nation's Report Card.
The reading and math tests are given to fourth and eighth graders every two years. Philly had small improvements.
In fourth grade reading, 17% scored proficient — a two-point increase. Fourth grade math was up six points, but only 19% scored proficient. Eighth grade students scored 1% better in reading, and two points higher in math, with 15% making the grade.
District superintendent Tony Watlington said while progress is incremental, Philadelphia is moving in the right direction.
"We believe that when all the data are in across the nation, we will absolutely be deemed one of the fastest-improving large urban school districts in the country,” he said.
For now, the city outscored only a handful of the 26 big-city districts taking this test.
"Until all of our children graduate college and career ready, ready to participate in the world's largest economy, it's not enough,” Watlington said.
Philadelphia ranked near the bottom of the 26 urban districts taking the exam.