Editor’s note: The following, focused on the Williamsburg Community School District, is the seventh installment of the series looking into how Blair County schools fared on the state assessment tests. The data for all Pennsylvania schools can be found at futurereadypa.org.

The PSSA and Keystone assessments only represent one measure of student success, according to Williamsburg Community School District Superintendent Lisa Murgas.

According to the state’s Future Ready Index, 460 students are enrolled at Williamsburg Community School District. Out of that number, 59.1% are economically disadvantaged, 0.7% are English Language Learners, 13.3% are in special education, 2.2% are gifted students, 1.1% are homeless and 0.2% are military connected.

At the elementary school, 45.2% of students placed proficient or advanced in the English Language Arts section, 4.7% below the statewide average, while 38.1% of students placed proficient or advanced in the mathematics section, 3.6% below the statewide average.

Students had an academic growth score of 50 in English, falling 20 points behind the state standard, while students in the mathematics category had an academic growth score of 52, 18 points behind the statewide standard.

According to PSSA math results, Murgas said fifth and sixth grades met the standard growth, but fourth grade fell below the growth standard.

Looking at PSSA English Language Arts results, fourth grade met the growth standard, while fifth and sixth grades fell below the growth standard.

To address areas for improvement, Murgas said the staff and administration plan to work together and review “all available data sources related to student performance and to identify different areas of need within specific grade levels.

“This means we will be looking at individual student assessment data to determine what their needs are,” she said.

They have yet to decide on specific interventions, but they plan on making decisions in the coming months.

At the junior and senior high school, 51.4% of students placed proficient or advanced in the English Language Arts category, which was 1.5% above the state average.

In the mathematics section, 31.2% placed proficient or advanced, which was 10.5% below the state average.

Students had an academic growth score of 50 in English, also falling 20 points behind the state standard.

Yet, students in the mathematics category had an academic growth score of 76.0, exceeding the statewide standard by six points.

Assessment results in the biology section were unavailable, showing “waiver participation” in place of unreleased — but tracked — scores.

According to PSSA math results, Murgas said seventh and eighth grades exceeded the growth standard. Seventh grade met the standard growth for PSSA English Language Arts results, but 8th grade fell below the growth standard.

Throughout all schools, Murgas said their curriculum in all subject areas is “fully aligned to the state standards.”

The district plans on adjusting schedules, curriculum and instructional practices in the future, she added.

When asked about technology integration in the classroom, Murgas said the district is maintaining a “1-to-1 technology environment” to “intentionally integrate” technology across grade levels.

Through this approach, students have access to instruction, support-differentiated learning and digital literacy skills in school and beyond.

“Across all buildings, technology serves as a tool to improve engagement, provide access to real-time feedback, support intervention and enrichment,” she said, ensuring that students have access to instructional resources.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.