Six out of 10 area high schools improved their School Performance Profile score over the past year, according to data released Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Now in its third year, the SPP is based heavily on state assessment scores, but also includes college readiness tests, industry standards-based assessments, graduation, promotion, and attendance rates, as well as evidence of offering rigorous courses as other factors in the calculation.Northwestern Lehigh High School scored the highest in the Times News area with an 88.5, just ahead of Carbon Career & Technical Institute’s 88.4CCTI’s score, up from 79.2 last year, was the highest for technical schools in the state.“I think it’s important to note we’ve been meeting our goals while maintaining our fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers,” Dave Reinbold, CCTI administrative director, said. “Our past two overall budget increases to our five sending schools has been zero. As always we credit our students and staff for the tremendous job they do. Our joint operating committee is informed and supportive and routinely makes the key decisions that enable us to be one of the top career and technical schools in Pennsylvania.”Meanwhile, Northwestern Lehigh’s administration and teachers have also started to review the scores.“Our administrators and teachers are true professionals, always open to new tools and strategies to further enhance data-informed decision making in our schools,” said Dr. Mary Anne Wright, superintendent. “As we review the data, our school teams will continue to strive for improved academic achievement and growth as identified on the School Performance Profile, and all of the other ways we know our students are being successful. While we receive a score for our schools, the more important aspect of this resource is that it allows us to acknowledge our strengths and use the profile as a tool for student academic improvement.”The biggest increase from 2013-14 went to Weatherly High School, which jumped from 56.7 to 74.“We’re very happy with our progress,” Weatherly Area Superintendent Thomas McGlaughlin said Wednesday. “We made some curriculum changes in algebra, biology and the language arts and it’s good to see that pay dividends. We have put our focus on the entire building not just math and science. The trick when you start to have success is keeping it up. We’ll continue to track our student’s progress and work on continuing to improve.”Last year’s highest scoring school, Jim Thorpe Area High School, fell from 88.2 to 76."Although the score is significantly lower from the previous year, we are hopeful that with the incorporation of our one-to-one laptop initiative, increased interventions, curricular changes, and schedule modifications we will be able produce positive growth in all of our students and continue closing the achievement gaps in math and English as a second language," Jim Thorpe Superintendent Brian Gasper said. "We are extremely satisfied with the positive growth in the area of biology. It is evident that some of the curricular and strategic changes made are producing positive results."Other scores included Northern Lehigh Area High School at 77.5, Pleasant Valley High School at 76.3, Weatherly Area High School at 74, Palmerton Area High School at 73.4, Lehighton Area High School at 72.4, Panther Valley High School at 66.2 and Tamaqua Area High School at 65.2.“We worked really hard on our curriculum and our score improved form a 58.9 to 73.4,” said Palmerton High School principal Paula Husar. “One of the things we did was make algebra 1 a full-year course. We didn’t think our students were getting the math foundation they needed to succeed.”Students who weren’t scoring well in Palmerton also received specific remediation in their enrichment periods.“For example, if someone was struggling in biology, they received remediation from a biology content specialist during their enrichment period,” Husar said. “And we adjusted those scheduled throughout the semesters to make sure they were getting attention in the subjects they were struggling with.”Husar credited Superintendent Scot Engler and the district’s curriculum office with supplying whatever the high school needed to help make the changes a reality.“When I asked for materials for our remediation program, we got them,” she said. “That doesn’t happen everywhere.”Palmerton students who scored proficient or above on the Keystone Exam will be receiving a special breakfast.“I’m talking hash browns and the whole works,” Husar said. “Whether we agree with them or not, these exams are here right now and they’re a requirement for graduation. We’ve really tried to stress that to the students and the parents.”Pennsylvania schools with an 11th grade received an SPP score this year, while other schools have been granted a one-year pause by the U.S. Department of Education.The pause was instituted for schools that administered the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, which was newly aligned to the state’s core standards.“The pause was aimed at preventing unintended consequences following the introduction of more rigorous, college and career-ready standards in Pennsylvania schools,” said state Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera. “While SPP scores can be a useful tool in assessing school performance, the department is engaged in conversations with multiple stakeholders to consider comprehensive measures in evaluating schools.”