Gender differences in reading and math scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment grade five and grade eight tests

This gender study examined Grade 5 and Grade 8 male and female results from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests. Male and female proficiency levels from 120 of the 501 Pennsylvania school districts were selected. The sample was representative of the population to control for student socioeconomic status and school district rural or urban status. To compare population proportions, z scores were used to analyze the data. In respect to reading results, significantly more males in both grade levels were in the lowest reading scoring range and significantly fewer males were in the highest reading scoring range. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to examine the rural/urban and socioeconomic status variables. Student socioeconomic status was the best predictor of student scores in both grade levels for reading and mathematics. When the scores were examined based upon the school district rural or urban status, there were significant differences found. Rural students significantly outperformed urban students in two regression models. Both of these models were in the basic or failing range. Urban students outperformed rural students in five of the regression models. These five models were all in the proficient and advanced ranges and are the two ranges considered passing in Pennsylvania. The results of this study help identify whether significant gender differences exist and which of the identified independent variables influence the PSSA test scores.