The percentage of students considered advanced, proficient, basic and below basic on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Grade 3 English Language Arts and Math exams are reported for the total student population.

Development of early math skills is an important part of elementary schooling and a foundation for continuing progress in not only math, but also science and related subjects. Third grade is also considered an important milestone in a student's career in terms of reading proficiency and is correlated to whether a student will graduate high school.

Of Erie County's 3rd grade PSSA testing scores among public schools, the students deemed Proficient averaged 31.18% across the schools in Math, whereas Proficient level averaged 41.71% in Reading. Up from 27.61% and 38.65% the previous year, respectively. Math and Reading Advanced Proficiency showed an opposite chance in 2021 to 2022, with Math proficiency falling down to 27.6%, and Reading falling to 38.65%. Reading showed a increase in Advanced level proficiency between 2015-2019 . Year 2021 has the highest percentage for Math scores below baics with 33.87%.

EVS analyzes the data in each topic category using indicators, which report a targeted and digestible number, rate, or amount to represent Erie County as a whole. While this does not cover every aspect of the topic, it assists in establishing Erie's performance relative to the prior year(s). The indicators for the Education: 3rd Grade Achievement topic are:

This indicator measures the percentage of public school 3rd graders in Erie County achieving proficient and advanced reading standards. The trend for 3rd Graders Achieving Reading Standards is up and better from 2022, with a reported increase  of +3.32% within the County.

This indicator measures the percentage of public school 3rd graders in Erie County achieving proficient and advanced mathstandards. The trend for 3rd Graders Achieving Math Standards is up and better from 222, with a reported increase  of +4.67% within the County.

Data from the PA Department of Education as of 09/2024.