Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Donna S. Leak (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Donna S. Leak (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
That's according to a East Central Reporter analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 52.7% of Cumberland County's 630 public high school students failed the ELA portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and have "minimal (or) incomplete… understanding of the knowledge and skills relative to Illinois Learning Standards."
Students can achieve four proficiencies in their subjects (partially met, approaching, meets, and exceeds standards). This report concludes students who partially met or approached the standards have failed in the subject.
Neoga Elementary School (56.2%) had the highest failure rates in Cumberland County. Meanwhile, Cumberland Elementary School (46.2%) had the lowest.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 57.8% in 2021 to 52.7% in 2023.
Data shows that the highest failure rates growths were seen in Christian County (72.5%), Hancock County (73.8%), Cook County (74.1%), White County (74.1%), and Morgan County (76.7%).
Cumberland Elementary School was the only Cumberland County high school to see improvements between 2021 and 2023.
Statewide, 39.9% of Illinois students failed the 2023 state English exam, down from 64% in 2019.
The SAT test is administered to Illinois high school sophomores "to fulfill the requirement that students take an assessment for college and career readiness in order to receive a regular high school diploma."
| High School | # of Students | Failing % in 2021 | Failing % in 2022 | Failing % in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neoga Elementary School | 96 | 59.3% | 59.8% | 56.2% |
| Neoga Junior/Senior High School | 107 | 56.1% | 67.1% | 56.1% |
| Cumberland Middle School | 284 | 57% | 61.2% | 53.5% |
| Cumberland Elementary School | 143 | 59.4% | 55.6% | 46.2% |
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