Illinois State Board of education | 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)
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, 44.1% of Lawrence County's 871 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.
Bridgeport Grade School (55.7%) had the highest failure rates in Lawrence County. Meanwhile, Sumner Attendance Center (32.8%) had the lowest.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 48.1% in 2021 to 44.1% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in one Lawrence County high school in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Bridgeport Grade School (55.7%).
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%).
Sumner Attendance Center was the only Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport Grade School | 79 | 41.6% | 55.4% | 55.7% |
| Parkview Junior High School | 226 | 49.6% | 53.4% | 51.3% |
| Parkside Elementary School | 239 | 47.4% | 49.5% | 46.9% |
| Red Hill Junior/Senior High School | 126 | 49.5% | 55.5% | 36.5% |
| Sumner Attendance Center | 201 | 48.2% | 42.8% | 32.8% |
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