Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
That's according to a West Central Reporter analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 54.2% of Cass County's 792 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.
A-C Central Middle School (63.3%), A-C Central Elementary School (57.5%) and Beardstown Junior/Senior High School (56.9%) had the highest failure rates in Cass County. Meanwhile, Gard Elementary School (48.7%) and Virginia Junior and Senior High School (41.8%) had the lowest.
Countywide, English test failure rates rose from 50.1% in 2021 to 54.2% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in six Cass County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at A-C Central Elementary School (57.5%).
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%).
No high schools in the county saw 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-C Central Middle School | 90 | 53.7% | 58.7% | 63.3% |
| A-C Central Elementary School | 47 | 71.1% | 34% | 57.5% |
| Beardstown Junior/Senior High School | 355 | 54.1% | 54.9% | 56.9% |
| Virginia Elementary School | 83 | 51.7% | 47.8% | 50.6% |
| Gard Elementary School | 150 | 36.4% | 38.9% | 48.7% |
| Virginia Junior and Senior High School | 67 | 45.4% | 36.1% | 41.8% |
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