The 2015 standardized test scores for Northwestern CUSD 2’s Northwestern Elementary School were below average despite spending the highest per student among elementary schools in Illinois’ West Central region, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
The ISBE report found that 23 percent of students at Northwestern Elementary School who took the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exam in 2015 passed. The average passage rate for the region was 29 percent, and the average spent per student was $9,290.
Northwestern Elementary School spent $11,124 per student – almost $2,000 more than the average spent by elementary schools in the region.
North Greene CUSD 3’s North Greene Elementary School also reported a below-average passage rate (12 percent) while spending above average per student ($9,573 per student).
In contrast, Carrollton CUSD 1’s Carrollton Grade School scored above average with a 31 percent passage rate despite receiving the least amount of funding per student in the region at $8,278 per student.
Of the five elementary schools Jacksonville SD 117 operates, Eisenhower Elementary School and South Jacksonville Elementary School posted above-average passage rates of 45 percent and 34 percent, respectively, while spending the second lowest amount in the region at $8,840 per student.
Jacksonville SD 117’s North Jacksonville School, Washington Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School scored below the average passage rate at 26 percent, 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Elementary schools reporting above-average passage rates and above-average spending were Greenfield CUSD10’s Greenfield Elementary School (40 percent, $10,019 per student) and Jersey CUSD 100’s Jersey East Elementary School (40 percent, $9,499 per student).
Middle Schools
Northwestern CUSD 2’s Northwestern Jr. High School posted a below-average passage rate of 17 percent despite spending the highest amount per student in the region at $11,124. The average passage rate for the region was 21 percent, and the average spent per student was $9,576.
In contrast, Jacksonville SD 117’s Jonathon Turner Jr. High School reported the highest passage rate among high schools in the region (33 percent) while spending the least per student ($8,840 per student). Jacksonville SD 117's 8 Points Charter School reported a passage rate of 5 percent.
Jersey CUSD 100’s Illini Middle School reported an above-average passage rate of 30 percent and spent $9,499 per student – slightly below the region’s $9,576 average per student.
West Central High Schools
Northwestern CUSD 2’s Northwestern High School posted a below-average passage rate of 29 percent despite spending the highest amount per student in the region at $11,124. The average passage rate for the region was 34 percent, and the average spent per student was $9,556.
North Greene CUSD 3’s North Greene Jr./Sr. High School also reported a below-average passage rate of 15 percent and spent $9,573 per student -- slightly above the regional average.
In contrast, Carrollton CUSD 1’s Carrollton High School reported an above-average passage rate at 65 percent and spent below the average per student at $8,278 per student.
High schools in the region scoring below-average passage rates and below-average spending were Jacksonville SD 117’s Jacksonville High School (26 percent, $8,840 per student) and Jersey CUSD 100’s Jersey Community High School (27 percent, $9,499 per student).
Greenfield CUSD 10’s Greenfield High School scored above the average passage rate at 44 percent and spent above the regional average per student at $10,019.
The PARCC test is a standardized exam used in several states to evaluate schools and student performance. Illinois began using PARCC tests to assess its students in 2015.
Alerts Sign-up