Two Pottstown Schools Are 'Low-Achieving'

Two Pottstown School District Schools have appeared on the state Department of Education's list of low-achieving schools.

Franklin Elementary School and Pottstown Middle School each ranked in the bottom 15 percent of aggregated Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) math and reading test results for the 2011-12 school year.

For students living in areas served by those schools, the 'low-achieving' designation could mean eligibility for an "Opportunity Scholarship" of up to $15,000 to attend a non-public school or a public school in a district where they do not reside.

The financial criteria determining eligibility for an 'Opportunity Scholarship' are changing later this year. Until June 30, a student's family can not have annual household income above $60,000, plus $12,000 for each dependent member of the household. After June 30, the baseline figure increases from $60,000 to $75,000.

The program is funded by businesses who contribute to scholarship providers in exchange for a tax credit, and the number of scholarships awarded is ultimately dependent upon whether sufficient funds are available.

A list of scholarship providers to which students may apply is available at http://www.newpa.com/ostc.