Philadelphia's Students Achieve Highest Math Scores in Nine Years, A Glimmer of Hope Amid Declining Reading Scores.
The city's public school district has made significant strides in mathematics, with students from almost all racial groups and English language learner backgrounds showing notable gains. According to officials, average scores on state math tests have reached their highest level since 2013, a recovery that is largely attributed to the implementation of a new math curriculum earlier this year.
While progress has been made, only about one-quarter of students in grades 3-8 achieved proficient scores on last year's math test. However, officials remain optimistic, citing improvements in areas such as third-grade mathematics, where over one-third of students reached proficiency levels. Deputy Superintendent Jermaine Dawson attributes the gains to increased investment in teacher coaching and support.
The district credits its new math curriculum, developed by Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, with driving this success. Additionally, the expansion of high-impact math tutoring for middle school students has helped bridge the gap between teachers and students familiarizing themselves with the new curriculum.
Notably, a significant increase in scores is being mirrored across the state, as math scores have been rising since the pandemic. However, Philadelphia's reading scores continue to fall short of pre-pandemic levels, despite efforts to implement new curricula and provide additional support.
Attendance has also emerged as a critical factor in determining student achievement. The district is working closely with partner organizations and families to address persistent absenteeism and ensure that students are regularly attending classes.
As officials celebrate the progress made in mathematics, they remain focused on addressing the ongoing challenges in reading. With more work needed to close the gap between math and reading scores, it remains to be seen whether this momentum can translate into sustained improvements across all areas of education.
The city's public school district has made significant strides in mathematics, with students from almost all racial groups and English language learner backgrounds showing notable gains. According to officials, average scores on state math tests have reached their highest level since 2013, a recovery that is largely attributed to the implementation of a new math curriculum earlier this year.
While progress has been made, only about one-quarter of students in grades 3-8 achieved proficient scores on last year's math test. However, officials remain optimistic, citing improvements in areas such as third-grade mathematics, where over one-third of students reached proficiency levels. Deputy Superintendent Jermaine Dawson attributes the gains to increased investment in teacher coaching and support.
The district credits its new math curriculum, developed by Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, with driving this success. Additionally, the expansion of high-impact math tutoring for middle school students has helped bridge the gap between teachers and students familiarizing themselves with the new curriculum.
Notably, a significant increase in scores is being mirrored across the state, as math scores have been rising since the pandemic. However, Philadelphia's reading scores continue to fall short of pre-pandemic levels, despite efforts to implement new curricula and provide additional support.
Attendance has also emerged as a critical factor in determining student achievement. The district is working closely with partner organizations and families to address persistent absenteeism and ensure that students are regularly attending classes.
As officials celebrate the progress made in mathematics, they remain focused on addressing the ongoing challenges in reading. With more work needed to close the gap between math and reading scores, it remains to be seen whether this momentum can translate into sustained improvements across all areas of education.
their new math curriculum is really paying off and it's amazing to see so many racial groups & English language learners making progress - we need more initiatives like this in schools! 
also, kudos to the teachers for getting additional support - they're the real MVPs 
however, it's still concerning that reading scores are not keeping up with math... let's keep pushing for those reading gains too! 
& can we talk about attendance tho? 
persistent absenteeism is a major hurdle & I hope the district stays focused on addressing this issue - every student deserves access to quality education, regardless of their attendance record 
! Philly's students are killing it (almost all groups and ELLs are getting it right) and it's not like they're just reteaching the same old stuff. The new curriculum seems to be working (thanks Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, I guess 
). Now if only reading scores could catch up... 
Attendance is still a big issue, though - we need those kids in class, folks! 
Let's hope this momentum doesn't fade and actual change happens soon. Fingers crossed 
The new curriculum is a big win, but let's keep an eye on attendance rates... if they can get kids in the classroom more consistently, those scores will really soar 
gotta keep pushing for more support and resources for all students. And can we talk about attendance being a huge factor? I know parents and schools are working hard to get kids in the classroom, but its still a struggle 
. But seriously, it's awesome that the new curriculum is working out and teachers are getting the support they need. I'm sure it's no easy feat, but it's great to see some progress being made.
. I remember my grandma used to read me stories from this old book every night before bed when I was a kid... those were the days 
.
! Philly's students r killin' it in math tho 
I mean we're talkin 9 yrs high score since 2013, that's like a whole lotta progress 
And its not just white kids or the wealthy gettin all the love either, students from every background are seein gains 
. Now if only dey cud get those reading scores on track too 
️ But for now, let's just celebrate da math wins 
... and attendance is still a huge issue, that's not gonna magically fix itself... some people might say its a glimmer of hope but i'm like "hold on a sec" lets see if this momentum translates to actual results not just math scores 
. And let's be real - any progress is better than nothing! So, kudos to the Philly school district for stepping up their game and acknowledging where they need to improve 
.
. Time to dig deeper into what makes it tick!
I'm loving the vibes from Philly's public school district! Their new math curriculum is straight fire 
, and it's awesome to see students from all backgrounds crushing it 
That's like, a big chunk of the population, fam! 
.
Have you seen any other districts making significant gains in education? I'm always down to share some stats and charts 