Lake County ACT scores head upward

A minor bump up or down in a test score might not seem like a big deal, yet the slightest fluctuation matters to Lake County school districts when it comes to measuring how well their students are prepared for college.

A sampling of ACT test scores released Wednesday by several area districts show 2007 scores are largely up from last year. Some schools that saw a dip in test scores are changing tactics to do better next year.

The college entrance exam is required for all high school juniors. It measures students' development in English, mathematics, reading and science to gauge if they are ready to be college freshmen.

A record 140,483 Illinois teens sat through the three-hour exam. Of that number, 21 percent of high school graduates hit benchmarks that gauge a student's readiness for college, up from 19 percent in 2003.

Several Lake County high schools' Class of 2007 graduates fared better in their overall ACT composite scores than the state's 20.5 average.

"It is encouraging to see the composite scores trending upward along with enrollment increases," said Doug Domeracki, principal of Warren Township High School District 121's Almond Road campus for juniors and seniors. Warren's composite score is 21.8, slightly up from 21.7 in 2006.

"The faculty should be very proud of the work they have done," Domeracki said. "At the same time, we will continue to strive toward improving curriculum and instruction at Warren Township High School."

Though Stevenson High School District 125's composite score dipped slightly from last year's 25.6 to 25.3, district officials are celebrating it as the second-highest score in school history.

This is the third straight year Stevenson's graduating seniors have posted a 25 or higher on the ACT, after having never reached that level since the school opened in 1965.

"We really work hard with the teachers and the kids and align our curriculum to make things work for them," said Principal Janet Gonzalez.

Wauconda Unit District 118 saw a nearly 4 percent decrease in its ACT score, from 20.7 in 2006 to 19.9 in 2007.

The drop was predicted after earlier results of the Explore test, taken by eighth-graders, and the Plan test, taken sophomore year in high school, said District 118 Superintendent Daniel Coles.

"But still it's a disappointment when your staff and the kids are working so hard to try and do well, and you still see the dip," Coles said. "You are going to get certain groups that are just at higher achievement levels than others. It's not for lack of effort or for lack of trying."

Coles said the district has made a significant change this school year to try to improve academic scores, starting with altering students' daily schedule.

The district is ditching its modified block schedule, which gave students extended class periods one day a week and a day off from school, to adopt a more traditional school day with the hope of providing more structure and rigor, Coles said.

It is the first time in five years the district will revert to a traditional schedule, partly prompted by declining test scores.

"It's a combination of things," Coles said. "It's a stagnation of our academic achievement that led to us looking around what things could be changed."

School officials are also introducing tutorial help during students' study hall time.