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 SE Illinois News analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 50.5% of Saline County's 1,482 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.
Eldorado Elementary School (65%), East Side Intermediate School (55.8%) and Carrier Mills-Stonefort Elementary School (52.1%) had the highest failure rates in Saline County. Meanwhile, Galatia Junior High School (41.8%) and Harrisburg Middle School (35.5%) had the lowest.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 53.5% in 2021 to 50.5% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in three Saline County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Eldorado Elementary School (65%).
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%).
Carrier Mills-Stonefort Elementary School, Galatia Elementary School, Galatia Junior High School, and Harrisburg Middle School were the Saline 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eldorado Elementary School | 217 | 54.2% | 52.3% | 65% |
| East Side Intermediate School | 351 | 54.3% | 49.1% | 55.8% |
| Carrier Mills-Stonefort Elementary School | 192 | 64.1% | 55.8% | 52.1% |
| Eldorado Middle School | 231 | 43.9% | 47.1% | 51.1% |
| Galatia Elementary School | 87 | 56.8% | 51.8% | 50.6% |
| Galatia Junior High School | 86 | 54.4% | 51.7% | 41.8% |
| Harrisburg Middle School | 318 | 51.1% | 39.6% | 35.5% |
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