Reading SD

Reading SD serves 17,363 students in Berks County, Pennsylvania, operating 19 schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The district is experiencing a 3.4% enrollment decline from the prior year, with a student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 across its 1,052 educators.

Academic performance metrics indicate substantial gaps relative to state averages. Math proficiency stands at 9.7% compared to the state average of 43.3%, while reading proficiency is 17.4% versus the state average of 49.8%. The graduation rate of 75.5% falls notably below Pennsylvania's 89.5% average, and chronic absenteeism affects 28.4% of the student population.

Reading SD serves a highly economically disadvantaged student body, with 94.8% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The district also enrolls 33.8% English learners and 25.8% students with disabilities. The student population is 87.7% Hispanic, 4.6% White, 6.0% Black, and 0.2% Asian.

Financially, Reading SD receives $19,497 per pupil, significantly exceeding the state average of $10,570, with a total budget of $365.2 million. Revenue sources are heavily state-dependent at 71.5%, supplemented by 14.1% federal and 13.9% local funding. This higher per-pupil spending allocation reflects the district's elevated needs related to its economically disadvantaged and multilingual student populations.