Thirty-five percent of eleventh grade students cannot read at their grade level and 48% are below proficient in math. In Philadelphia, only 27% of 11th graders are proficient in math and 33% in reading. Harrisburg (PA) City schools are even worse—only 15% of students are proficient in 11th grade math and 28% in reading.
A recent report from the Manhattan Institute indicates that Pennsylvania’s real graduation rate is 81% (as opposed to the reported 87%), but only 40% of students graduated ready for college in 2002. And Pennsylvania continues to rate near the bottom in SAT scores, finishing 47th among the states in average total score in 2006.
(Source: Commonwealth Foundation: www.CommonwealthFoundation.org)
