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 West Central Reporter analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 51.8% of Hancock County's 1,167 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.
Warsaw Elementary School (73.8%), Southeastern Elementary School (60%) and Nauvoo Elementary School (59.8%) had the highest failure rates in Hancock County. Meanwhile, La Harpe Elementary School (42%) and Carthage Middle School (39%) had the lowest.
Of nine Hancock County high schools, four, including Hamilton Elementary School, Southeastern Junior/Senior High School, and La Harpe Elementary School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 52.5% in 2021 to 51.8% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in five Hancock County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Warsaw Elementary School (73.8%).
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%).
Dallas City Elementary School and La Harpe Elementary School were the Hancock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Elementary School | 107 | 56.1% | 48.6% | 73.8% |
| Southeastern Elementary School | 120 | 43.8% | 58.3% | 60% |
| Nauvoo Elementary School | 137 | 59.6% | 58.8% | 59.8% |
| Dallas City Elementary School | 107 | 67% | 65.5% | 53.3% |
| Carthage Primary School | 83 | 54.6% | 43.1% | 50.6% |
| Hamilton Elementary School | 246 | 45.1% | 55.6% | 48.4% |
| Southeastern Junior/Senior High School | 71 | 46.3% | 44% | 47.9% |
| La Harpe Elementary School | 119 | 60.3% | 58% | 42% |
| Carthage Middle School | 177 | 45.2% | 48.6% | 39% |
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