State data showing schools' 2022-2023 standardized test scores is now available, and scores suggest several Erie County schools have significant room for improvement.
 
Like virtually every district in the country, Erie School District students demonstrated considerable learning loss and setbacks during the pandemic, problems that were only amplified in less-affluent districts. 
PSSA exams are scored as advanced, proficient, basic or below basic.
In math, more than 85 percent of Erie's tested students scored as basic or below basic, and more than 62 percent scored in the lowest-possible range. 
In reading, 78 percent fell into the bottom two tiers, though less than a third of students scored below basic.
These scores are all improvements from the year before, demonstrating how much work needs to be done.
But, leaders say, there is, perhaps, some reason for optimism.
Although achievement scores are low, academic growth rates appear high, with most grades out-pacing the predicted yearly growth.
Leaders say changes in test scores won't be immediate, but data suggests scores will rise. 
"Our kids are making more than a year's growth in a year," said Karin Ryan of the Erie City School District. "Although that might not yet be translating to proficiency, to close an achievement gap, kids need to make more than a year's growth."  
 The Erie City district is among several local districts seeing the same trend of less-than-stellar test scores but reason for optimism from growth.
  Data also shows that generally, the more well-off a district's population is, the better its students bounced back from the pandemic. That poses additional hurdles to multiple local districts, which struggle financially. 
Full PSSA results for every PA district can be found here.
PVAAS growth measurements can be found here.