Illinois State Board of education | Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Donna S. Leak (2023)
Illinois State Board of education | Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Donna S. Leak (2023)
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, 41.4% of Edwards County's 348 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.
Of two Edwards County schools, Albion Grade School (46.6%) had the highest failure rate in the county. Meanwhile, West Salem Grade School (29.1%) had the lowest.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 45% in 2021 to 41.4% in 2023.
The failure rate increased at one Edwards County high school in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Albion Grade School (46.6%).
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%).
West Salem Grade School was the only high school in the county 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion Grade School | 245 | 38.7% | 45.2% | 46.6% |
| West Salem Grade School | 103 | 60.2% | 43.8% | 29.1% |
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