West Central Reporter

In the 2022-23 school year, 38.6% of the students in Western Community Unit School District 12 passed the ELA portion of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 184 students in Western Community Unit School District 12 who took the ELA portion of the test, approximately 71 (38.6%) passed.

The percentage of Western Community Unit School District 12 students who met or exceeded expectations on the IAR increased by 0.1% compared to the previous school year.

Western Community Unit School District 12 roughly covers three schools within Pike County and has a main office in Barry.

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) assesses the progress of students in grades 3-8 in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics.

Illinois has approved a new budget for 2025 that increases funds for K-12 education to $8.6 billion, $350 million above last year’s budget. Lawmakers also approved a new bill that creates a statewide child tax credit, which allows families to receive $300 per child under 17 years. This comes after a similar aid was granted from the federal government, as part of the American Rescue Plan.

School	District	Students who met standards (%)	Students who exceed standards (%)
Western Junior High School	Western Community Unit School District 12	36.4%	3.4%
Western Barry Elementary School	Western Community Unit School District 12	34.4%	3.1%