The Basics:

The school performance scores displayed in this chart were downloaded in May 2012 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website (here); data on student demographics was found via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) here. Those interested in reviewing reports on individual schools can search here. These agencies make such data available to the public as a matter of policy. The Education Consumers Foundation simply displays that which is publicly available in a consumer-friendly way.

• Each dot represents a school's reading proficiency rate for all students
• Dots to the right have less diverse student populations, as reported by the Pennsvylvania Department of Education
• Dots toward the top have higher rates of students who are proficient or advanced on the state's reading test.

About the Chart
Learning to read is one of the highest priorities of elementary school. Students who do not master reading are at a substantially higher risk of academic failure in high school. 

Improving third grade reading proficiency rates is arguably the single most cost-effective change a school can make to improve overall achievement outcomes. Better readers gain greater benefit from school.  Users interested in learning more about early reading instruction alternatives should go here.

Improving third grade reading proficiency rates is arguably the single most cost-effective change a school can make to improve overall achievement outcomes. Better readers gain greater benefit from school. Users interested in more informationon improving outcomes are strongly encouraged to read "Annual Growth, Catch-Up Growth" by Lynn Fielding.

Reading the Chart
The horizontal scale (x-axis) represents the percentage of a school's students who are non-minority. The vertical scale (y-axis) represents the percentage of a school's students who are "proficient" or "advanced" in reading--as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These are the students who have mastered reading and are prepared to advance to the next grade.