Education
Students Receiving Special Education Services


Students Receiving Special Education Services

What does this measure?

Percent of students (ages 6-21) classified with disabilities and receiving special education services.

Why is this important?

Students receiving special education services can be at greater risk for poor school performance, including lower test scores and a higher chance of dropping out. The proportion of students in special education can significantly affect a school district's budget, as some students may require intensive services. This proportion also can be an indicator of the effectiveness of intervention programs aimed at addressing problems in early years and preventing students from being classified with disabilities.

How is our county performing?

In 2016, 20% of Berks students received special education services, and increase of 9 percentage points since 2001. This rate was higher than the state (at 18%) which had seen an increase of 6 percentage points since 2001. Berks also had a higher proportion than the nation, at 12%, which has remained essentially flat since 2000.

Among local school districts within Berks County, Tulpehocken had the highest proportion, at 23%, followed by Antietam, Conrad Weiser and Kutztown, all at 22%. The proportion of students receiving special education services was lowest in Schuylkill Valley, at 17%. Berks' rate of special education students was similar to surrounding counties, with the exception of Schuylkill, which had a higher rate at 22%.

Notes about the data

Data are from the National Center for Education Statistics. Varying school district practices on classifying students as having disabilities can impact the numbers. Also, school districts known for effective special education programs may attract more students with disabilities.

There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.

Students Receiving Special Education Services
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Pennsylvania12%13%13%14%14%15%16%16%17%17%16%17%17%17%17%18%
Berks County10%11%11%12%13%14%14%15%16%17%18%18%18%19%19%19%20%
Berks County Regions
Central
Northeast
South
Southeast
West
Reading city
Berks County Peers
Chester County11%11%12%13%13%14%15%16%17%17%17%17%17%17%17%18%18%
Lancaster County13%14%15%15%16%16%16%16%17%17%17%16%16%16%16%16%17%
Lebanon County11%12%12%13%13%14%14%15%15%15%16%17%17%17%18%18%19%
Lehigh County11%10%11%12%12%13%13%15%15%16%15%16%16%17%17%17%18%
Montgomery County12%12%13%13%13%14%14%15%16%16%17%17%17%17%17%18%18%
Schuylkill County12%13%14%15%16%17%17%18%19%19%20%20%21%21%21%21%22%
School Districts
Boyertown Area School District10%10%11%12%13%14%14%16%16%17%18%18%18%18%19%20%21%
Tulpehocken Area School District11%11%13%15%18%21%21%21%19%17%17%17%19%19%19%22%23%
Antietam School District12%14%15%15%15%17%17%18%20%21%20%20%19%21%22%24%22%
Reading School District10%11%10%12%12%13%12%13%14%16%19%19%20%20%20%20%20%
Muhlenberg School District11%11%11%12%12%14%15%17%17%17%18%18%18%18%18%19%18%
Hamburg Area School District8%10%11%12%13%12%13%15%14%15%14%14%16%17%17%18%18%
Wyomissing Area School District7%8%8%9%9%10%14%16%15%16%17%17%17%17%18%18%18%
Brandywine Heights Area School District13%15%15%16%17%18%20%20%21%20%19%19%19%19%20%20%20%
Twin Valley School District12%13%13%14%14%14%14%14%14%15%16%16%18%18%18%18%19%
Exeter Township School District9%11%12%13%14%14%15%18%18%18%19%19%18%19%19%19%19%
Schuylkill Valley School District11%11%11%12%12%12%13%13%15%15%16%15%17%16%16%16%17%
Oley Valley School District12%11%12%12%13%13%13%15%15%16%17%17%18%19%19%17%19%
Daniel Boone Area School District10%11%12%12%13%14%14%15%15%15%15%15%16%17%17%18%19%
Kutztown Area School District11%13%14%16%18%19%20%21%20%22%22%22%22%22%23%22%22%
Governor Mifflin School District9%9%10%11%12%13%13%15%16%16%17%17%18%20%21%22%21%
Conrad Weiser Area School District11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%18%19%19%21%22%22%21%21%22%
Wilson School District11%14%15%15%16%15%15%17%16%15%17%17%17%17%17%18%18%
Fleetwood Area School District10%10%11%11%11%12%12%13%13%15%17%17%17%18%18%19%19%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics




Number of Students Receiving Special Education Services
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Pennsylvania222,584232,056242,837253,129260,909267,682292,649293,865295,028294,592295,077294,963295,501294,997296,959302,540
Berks County6,4637,0147,4848,1918,7319,4339,92810,97411,11311,83012,48312,69112,92212,93613,02613,11613,291
Berks County Regions
Central
Northeast
South
Southeast
West
Reading city
Berks County Peers
Chester County6,7277,4128,0408,6539,15610,09010,66611,99212,44512,66012,80513,57813,39813,52313,92714,06614,124
Lancaster County9,0459,41110,14810,44811,08311,29511,42411,55511,60211,56211,31011,04410,85610,94310,99711,06011,216
Lebanon County1,9142,0942,0762,3212,4232,5802,6422,8862,8972,9113,0473,1273,2033,3363,3633,5173,650
Lehigh County4,7574,4154,9975,4985,9926,2926,6457,6337,8577,9778,0218,2278,3068,5258,5658,4988,969
Montgomery County11,90212,09512,82613,46914,20714,84715,46216,66617,41218,11618,52719,03519,71520,13120,29620,60420,989
Schuylkill County2,4142,4602,5822,7682,8663,0513,0483,3693,5043,5203,6093,6383,7063,7843,6923,7313,782
School Districts
Boyertown Area School District6566967257938879729961,1321,1541,2151,2461,2981,2941,3041,3621,4061,481
Tulpehocken Area School District185191223263310359354348312265261261288283278312321
Antietam School District124149161155166190193200213225211208203223229255233
Reading School District1,5251,6501,6931,8971,9782,2222,2022,4172,5102,9243,3773,4673,6123,4593,4453,4013,418
Muhlenberg School District310321328367370425504580582599628652645651647671659
Hamburg Area School District217264297322344343362399366374348354380394386389397
Wyomissing Area School District133140149164175182267303285293314310319324341342351
Brandywine Heights Area School District274310316323333365381389382355339341322305311300295
Twin Valley School District360382402428451445458487491517536556594603613619652
Exeter Township School District354403469514554587639774784814817825786779799767752
Schuylkill Valley School District200205218223228231256256297304315290321313305314351
Oley Valley School District249240254273268263280310303315325326330328325297313
Daniel Boone Area School District277344383407461486512575567582590576605626628635647
Kutztown Area School District211229260292322335353363340365357341326332321301292
Governor Mifflin School District376387428479503539559630663674727734758826848880858
Conrad Weiser Area School District289335342371425450496532537555561600618606576576576
Wilson School District258324342348359333341375358351375379370365361397398
Fleetwood Area School District241255271287300308327348362411444452457473488487486

Source: National Center for Education Statistics
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