Pennsylvania


U.S.
Rank
#19 C
Overall PPI Score: 74%

Pennsylvania, ranked 19th with a C, stands at a turning point. Rising parent demand signals potential, but the Keystone State needs bold leadership to fully unlock educational choice.

Charter Schools

Score
72%
Grade: C
Rank: #31

One of the earliest states to adopt and grow charters has seen state-imposed obstacles year after year, compromising their ability to grow and prosper. Envious school boards and politicians influenced by special interests however can't stop the demand of...

Transformational Learning

Score
80%
Grade: B
Rank: #16

Pennsylvania has a robust virtual schooling option through the state’s cyber charter schools and there’s a state-level emphasis on personalized learning through the Future Ready PA Index, which encourages student progress based on mastery. Further, CTE...

Leadership

Governor Shapiro continues to play around the edges after bucking his party with a public declaration of support for the Lifeline Scholarship program. With a combined $150 million expansion of the two existing tax-credit programs, it still isn’t the full...

Choice Programs (Scholarships, Vouchers, Tax Credits, etc.)

Score
75%
Grade: C
Rank: #17

Despite repeated attempts and promises to enact the Lifeline Scholarships program over the past few years, the state remains a laggard in giving all students who need and deserve great education the opportunity to succeed. However, thanks to relentless...

DID YOU KNOW?

Even as innovation surges nationwide, high-spending states like California, New York, and Oregon still limit families' options, showing that dollars alone don't guarantee education freedom.

Transparency

While not intuitively available on Pennsylvania’s Department of Education website, school and district report cards can be accessed via the state’s data platform, futurereadypa.org. The user can access school performance, district performance, and school fast...

Teacher Quality

One of many data points to assess whether a state has the right policies in place to ensure teacher quality is the "use of student achievement data in teacher preparation accountability." How empty or full the fuel tank above is will give you the answer for your state.

Fast Facts:

4th Grade Math Proficiency: 41%
8th Grade Math Proficiency: 21%
4th Grade Reading Proficiency: 33%
8th Grade Reading Proficiency: 31%
Average SAT Score: 1075 / 1600
Average ACT Score: 24.3 / 36
Graduation Rate: 87%

Constitutional Issues

"The Pennsylvania Constitution contains a Compelled Support Clause and a Blaine Amendment," which "restricts the use of funds ‘raised for the public schools'. Case law follows the federal Establishment Clause" (Institute for Justice) precedent permitting a...