Chief Education Officer Jason Helfer (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
Chief Education Officer Jason Helfer (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, 41.1% of Effingham County's 2,123 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.
Effingham Junior High School (51.9%), Central Grade School (49.4%) and Altamont Grade School (42.2%) had the highest failure rates in Effingham County. Meanwhile, Teutopolis Grade School (28.4%) and Teutopolis Junior High School (21%) had the lowest.
Of nine Effingham County high schools, eight, including Central Grade School, Altamont Grade School, and Beecher City Grade School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 48.6% in 2021 to 41.1% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in two Effingham County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Beecher City Grade School (41.9%).
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%).
Effingham Junior High School, Central Grade School, Altamont Grade School, Beecher City Junior/Senior High School, and Teutopolis Junior High School were the Effingham County high schools 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham Junior High School | 503 | 57.4% | 56.3% | 51.9% |
| Central Grade School | 449 | 54.8% | 52.5% | 49.4% |
| Altamont Grade School | 256 | 48.8% | 44.3% | 42.2% |
| Beecher City Grade School | 74 | 44% | 26.9% | 41.9% |
| Beecher City Junior/Senior High School | 73 | 71.2% | 67.1% | 39.7% |
| Dieterich Junior/Senior High School | 109 | 53.9% | 31.4% | 35.7% |
| Dieterich Elementary School | 163 | 32.8% | 38% | 33.7% |
| Teutopolis Grade School | 320 | 33% | 36.9% | 28.4% |
| Teutopolis Junior High School | 176 | 38.9% | 28% | 21% |
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