IL Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
IL Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders (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, 44.4% of White County's 958 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.
Booth Elementary School (74.1%), Grayville Junior Senior High School (59%) and Wells Elementary School (57.8%) had the highest failure rates in White County. Meanwhile, Carmi-White County Junior High School (34%) and Jefferson Attendance Center (33.4%) had the lowest.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 51.8% in 2021 to 44.4% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in three White County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Booth Elementary School (74.1%).
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%).
Washington Attendance Center and Carmi-White County Junior High School were the White 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booth Elementary School | 27 | 60.6% | 50% | 74.1% |
| Grayville Junior Senior High School | 56 | 64.3% | 50.9% | 59% |
| Wells Elementary School | 64 | 63.9% | 41.4% | 57.8% |
| Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Elementary School | 269 | 57.4% | 60.6% | 51.3% |
| Washington Attendance Center | 246 | 49.3% | 48.6% | 39.4% |
| Carmi-White County Junior High School | 200 | 43.6% | 41.9% | 34% |
| Jefferson Attendance Center | 96 | 46.3% | 48% | 33.4% |
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