Most school districts in Butler County received above average results on state standardized tests, which the Pennsylvania Department of Education released this week.

This past spring, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, PSSA, tests were given for the first time using new Pennsylvania Core standards. Third through eighth graders statewide took the tests in English language arts, math and science. Results of those tests were anticipated to dip because of the more rigorous standards.

David Zupsic, South Butler School District superintendent, said, “Generally speaking, there was a decline in students’ performance levels statewide. We experienced the same kinds of drops.”

Math test scores were particularly low, with 39.6 percent of students statewide receiving advanced or proficient scores.

But South Butler had 45.5 percent, more than 5 percentage points above the state average.

“I don’t think schools should compare these to last year because these are totally different assessments,” Zupsic said.

He said students and teachers alike will be looking at ways to better understand core curriculum standards and competencies. Using afterschool tutoring and remediation will be a must, too, in making adjustments.

Many county schools had similar results.

The Butler School District’s scores varied widely between schools, from a 27.7 percent passing rate in math at Center Avenue Elementary to 65.6 percent at Connoquenessing Elementary. Districtwide, 46.4 percent of students scored advanced or proficient in math.

“Pennsylvania Core has more rigorous standards,” said Dale Lumley, Butler superintendent. “The new test really can’t be compared to the earlier PSSA standards. They’re obviously more difficult.”

Lumley called the results “a new baseline for student achievement.”

Meanwhile, a few schools were below state average scores. Karns City had 36 percent of its students with passing scores in math; Union School District in Clarion County had 29 percent.

Karns City Superintendent Eric Ritzert said, “I do not believe that they are an accurate assessment. Policymakers seem fixated on testing rather than helping schools improve.”

Statewide, English and science passing results were 60 percent and 67.8 percent, respectively.

Butler School District had 63.1 percent of students with passing scores in English and 76.9 percent of students with passing scores in science.

South Butler had 73.8 percent in English and 92 percent in science. Slippery Rock School District had 63.8 percent in English and 74.8 percent in science.

Patty Kardambikis, assistant superintendent with the Slippery Rock School District, said the past and the most recent PSSA test scores are impossible to compare.

“You really can’t compare apples to oranges,” she said. “We have a brand new math curriculum this year, K to 8, and we’re in the third year of a new reading curriculum.”

Both of those programs align with Pennsylvania Core standards.

Districts still are working to adjust to new curricula and new professional development training with staff, said Alfonso Angelucci, Slippery Rock superintendent.

“We have to let those things take some time. It doesn’t happen overnight,” he said.

The state was granted a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education in September for this year’s round of test scores, allowing the state to exclude the PSSA from teacher evaluations tied to Pennsylvania School Performance Profile scores.

Results for the Keystone test, which high school students take, have not yet been released and will still play a role in the School Performance Profiles this year.