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Pennsylvania school board elections, 2023

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Pennsylvania was one of 10 states where Ballotpedia provided comprehensive school board election coverage in 2023.
Learn more about our comprehensive coverage here.


Elections

The table below contains links to all school board elections within Ballotpedia's regular coverage scope in this state, which included all school districts in the 100 largest cities by population, the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment.

Editor's note: Some school districts choose to cancel the primary election, or both the primary and general election, if the number of candidates who filed does not meet a certain threshold. The table below does not reflect which primary or general elections were canceled. Please click through to each school district's page for more information.

2023 Pennsylvania School Board Elections
District Primary General Election General Runoff Election Regular term length Seats up for election Total board seats 2022-2023 enrollment
Pittsburgh Public Schools 5/16/2023 11/7/2023 N/A 4 4 9 20,034

Ballotpedia is covering all other school board elections in Pennsylvania , including those outside of our regular coverage scope. Use the links below to view all covered elections in Pennsylvania.




Academic performance

See also: Public education in Pennsylvania

BP-Initials-UPDATED.png The sections below do not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Education terms
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NAEP scores

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Maryland, New York, and Ohio), Pennsylvania had the highest share of eighth grade students who scored at or above proficient in math.[1]

Percent of students scoring at or above proficient, 2012-2013
Math - Grade 4 Math - Grade 8 Reading - Grade 4 Reading - Grade 8
Pennsylvania 44% 42% 40% 42%
Maryland 47% 37% 45% 42%
New York 40% 32% 37% 35%
Ohio 48% 40% 37% 39%
United States 41% 34% 34% 34%
Source: United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables"

Graduation, ACT and SAT scores

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Pennsylvania and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.[1][2][3]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.[4]

Pennsylvania schools reported a graduation rate of 85.5 percent, highest among its neighboring states.

In Pennsylvania, more students took the SAT than the ACT, earning an average SAT score of 1480.

Comparison table for graduation rates and test scores, 2012-2013
State Graduation rate, 2013 Average ACT composite, 2013 Average SAT composite, 2013
Percent Quintile ranking** Score Participation rate Score Participation rate
Pennsylvania 85.5% Second 22.7 18% 1480 71%
Maryland 85% Second 22.3 21% 1483 73%
New York 76.8% Fourth 23.4 26% 1463 76%
Ohio 82.2% Third 21.8 72% 1635 17%
United States 81.4% 20.9 54% 1498 50%
**Graduation rates for states in the first quintile ranked in the top 20 percent nationally. Similarly, graduation rates for states in the fifth quintile ranked in the bottom 20 percent nationally.
Sources: United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express"
ACT.org, "2013 ACT National and State Scores"
The Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT scores by state, 2013"

Dropout rates

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Pennsylvania was lower than the national average at 2.2 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 2.8 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.[5]

State profile

State profile

Demographic data for Pennsylvania
 PennsylvaniaU.S.
Total population:12,791,904316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):44,7433,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:81.6%73.6%
Black/African American:11%12.6%
Asian:3.1%5.1%
Native American:0.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.1%3%
Hispanic/Latino:6.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:89.2%86.7%
College graduation rate:28.6%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,599$53,889
Persons below poverty level:15.9%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Pennsylvania.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, three are located in Pennsylvania, accounting for 1.46 percent of the total pivot counties.[6]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Pennsylvania had one Retained Pivot County and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 0.55 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Pennsylvania coverage on Ballotpedia

Pivot Counties

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Three of 67 Pennsylvania counties—4.5 percent—are pivot counties. These are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 pivot counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Erie County, Pennsylvania 1.56% 16.03% 19.88%
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 19.31% 4.81% 8.41%
Northampton County, Pennsylvania 3.78% 4.71% 12.30%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Pennsylvania with 48.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 47.5 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Pennsylvania cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Pennsylvania supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 53.3 to 43.3 percent. The state, however, favored Democrats in every presidential election between 2000 and 2012, but voted Republican in 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Pennsylvania. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[7][8]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 89 out of 203 state House districts in Pennsylvania with an average margin of victory of 37.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 84 out of 203 state House districts in Pennsylvania with an average margin of victory of 37.3 points. Clinton won 19 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 114 out of 203 state House districts in Pennsylvania with an average margin of victory of 20 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 119 out of 203 state House districts in Pennsylvania with an average margin of victory of 28.2 points. Trump won 17 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

Additional elections

See also: Pennsylvania elections, 2023

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Battleground election

Central Bucks School District

See also: Central Bucks School District, Pennsylvania, elections (2023)

Ballotpedia identified the November 7, 2023, general election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

Incumbent Karen Smith (D), Heather Reynolds (D), Dana Foley (D), Rick Haring (D), and Susan M. Gibson (D), the Democrats who ran as the Neighbors United for School Board slate of candidates, were elected to the Central Bucks School District school board in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on November 7, 2023.[9] The election resulted in a 6-3 Democratic majority; prior to the election, Republicans held a 6-3 majority. Five districts were up for election: Central Bucks Board of Directors Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8.

The district had approximately 17,570 students during the 2021-2022 school year. As of October 2023, the district was the third largest in Pennsylvania.[10]

Heading into the election, the board had a 6-3 Republican majority. Of the five regions up for election, Republicans represented three, while Democrats represented two. Republicans needed to win at least two of the five regions to maintain a majority. Democrats needed to win at least four of the five regions to secure a majority.

Smith, Reynolds, Foley, Haring, and Gibson were the Democrats who ran as the Neighbors United for School Board slate of candidates.[11] They campaigned against the school board's book and neutrality policies. On the slate's website, the candidates said, "Central Bucks Schools should have elected school board directors who respect their citizen oversight responsibility. These directors should honor and uphold the mission of CBSD to provide all students with the academic and problem-solving skills essential for personal development, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning."[11] Neighbors United said it supported "candidates who respect our students and staff as individuals, commit to supporting public education, and will improve classroom resource funding."[11] The slate opposed "book banning, anti-LGBTQA+ policies, and 'culture war' politics."[11]

Hunter, Mass, Schloeffel, Martino, and Arjona were the Republicans who ran as the Central Bucks Forward slate of candidates.[12] On the slate's website, the candidates said, "Every student deserves an education focused on reaching their full potential. Parents need to be full partners in that process, not bystanders. The school board is the place where we shape the blueprint for a bright future for every student. We do that with civility, respect, and professionalism. That’s our commitment."[12] The slate listed the following priorities: "employ School Resource Officers to protect schools and build bridges with students; launch full-day kindergarten and STEM Academy; reverse Covid learning losses by shifting from controversy to classroom excellence; design and deploy curriculum focused on preparing students for tomorrow's jobs; and nurture civil debate to protect the voices of students, parents, and teachers."[12]

The election followed two noteworthy events. In July 2022, the board voted along partisan lines to allow parents to "challenge a book in a school library if it depicts implied or actual nudity or 'sexual acts'."[13][14] A committee of librarians, teachers, and administrators then determines if the book should remain in school libraries.[14] In January 2023, the board voted along partisan lines for a neutrality policy, which forbids district employees from advocating to students on "'partisan, political, or social policy matters,' or display any 'flag, banner, poster, sign, sticker, pin, button, insignia, paraphernalia, photograph, or other similar material that advocates concerning any partisan, political, or social policy issue.'”[15]

Hunter voted in favor of both policies and said, "A major mischaracterization of the proposed library policy is that it’s a book ban. That is unequivocally untrue. The policy is intended to prioritize materials that support and enrich curriculum and/or students’ personal interests and learning. The policy states that books should be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, intellectual development and ability level of the students for whom the material is selected."[16] She said the neutrality policy bans "Blue Lives Matter flags, anti-abortion flags or any other flags that advocate on social policy issues,"[17] adding that "[t]his policy will allow teachers and students to focus on learning in an environment of mutual respect."[18]

Smith voted against both policies and said, "I was deeply disappointed by the passage of the library book policy. ... Unfortunately, even the overall literary merit of a book does not prevent it from being removed from our libraries under this policy. The books being challenged are also disproportionately representative of LGBTQ authors or characters or BIPOC authors or characters."[19] She said of the neutrality policy, "A classroom can never be a neutral place. Instead, we should be striving to teach our students to navigate a world of differences and not sterilize our schools. The only neutral walls would be blank walls. Unless we are going to have nothing on the walls, this goal of neutrality is a fallacy."[19]

Elected school board members in Pennsylvania are elected via partisan elections. As of 2022, all school boards except the Philadelphia School District Board of Education had elected members. The mayor of Philadelphia appoints, and the city council confirms, the nine board members.[20] Over 97% of local school board members in the United States are elected, while board members in a small number of districts are appointed.

See also

Pennsylvania School Boards News and Analysis
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Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables," accessed May 13, 2014
  2. ↑ ACT, "2012 ACT National and State Scores," accessed May 13, 2014
  3. ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT Scores by State 2013," October 10, 2013
  4. ↑ StudyPoints, "What's a good SAT score or ACT score?" accessed June 7, 2015
  5. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Dropout and Graduation Rate Data File, School Year 2010-11, Provision Version 1a and School Year 2011-12, Preliminary Version 1a," accessed May 13, 2014
  6. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
  7. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  8. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  9. ↑ phillyburbs.com, "Democrats sweep Central Bucks School Board race," November 7, 2023
  10. ↑ Central Bucks School District, "Explore the Central Bucks School District," accessed October 22, 2023
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Central Bucks School District Neighbors United for School Board, "Home," accessed October 2, 2023
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Central Bucks Forward, "Home," accessed October 2, 2023
  13. ↑ Reuters, "How Christian groups helped parents pull books from some Pennsylvania school libraries," June 24, 2023
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 CBS News Philadelphia, "Central Bucks School Board Passes Controversial Policy Change That Could Lead To Book Bans," July 27, 2022
  15. ↑ WHYY, "Central Bucks moves forward with policy censoring classroom decor and discussions — despite federal investigation," January 11, 2023
  16. ↑ Central Bucks School District, "CBSD Community Message on Library Materials Policy," accessed October 8, 2023
  17. ↑ WHYY, "Central Bucks moves forward with policy censoring classroom decor and discussions — despite federal investigation," January 11, 2023
  18. ↑ WCYB 5, "Pa. school board bans political, social 'advocacy' by teachers in class," January 11, 2023
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Tap into Doylestown, "A Look at Candidates for the Central Bucks School Board: Karen Smith from Region 1," April 20, 2023
  20. ↑ phttps://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/uconsCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&yr=1937&sessInd=0&smthLwInd=0&act=320&chpt=9 Pennsylvania General Assembly, 1937 Act 320," accessed October 22, 2023]
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