Dist. 220 students make strides in ACT tests

While releasing impressive test scores for some of their highest-achieving students, officials at Barrington High School say many students further from the top are making notable gains as well.

Barrington High Associate Principal Scott Kasik told school board members this week that the Class of 2007 averaged a 24 on the ACT college prep exam, the same as the previous class but well above the state average of 20.5.

"I think that is a great accomplishment for our students," Kasik said.

Barrington's average, he said, ranks it 17th in the state among all high schools.

Barrington students also scored higher than their peers in neighboring Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, who averaged 22.3, and Northwest Suburban High School District 214, who averaged 22.9.

The ACT, scored on a 36-point scale, is one of the two main college entrance exams. It measures development in English, mathematics, reading and science.

Superintendent Tom Leonard said these scores are another affirmation that Barrington High students leave prepared for college.

It also mirrors feedback the district receives directly from its graduates. Each year, it surveys the previous spring's graduates about their first year of college and how well prepared they felt they were.

"We are constantly getting a high percentage saying they were better prepared (than their friends from other schools)," Leonard said.

Also this week, Kasik gave a report on the district's Advanced Placement program, which includes a variety of courses in English, fine arts, world languages, math, science and social studies. If the students pass an exam at the end of the course, they're able to earn college credit.

For the fourth straight year, Kasik said the number of students taking AP courses grew.

In 2006-07, 622 students took AP classes, up from 608 the previous year and 480 in 2003-04. Kasik said 83 percent of students passed the exam to earn the college credit last year, up from 81.2 percent the previous year.

"We feel like we are really moving in the right direction," he said.

While the news was good for the highest-achieving students, Kasik said some lower-performing students also are making strides.

Based on the Prairie State Achievement Exam, Kasik said the state has identified sub-groups of students not meeting standards in reading or math.

While the school's Hispanic and economically disadvantaged groups are not meeting the standards, Kasik said students in those groups scored better than they have in the past four years.

"We are seeing an upward trend," Kasik said.

The school hopes to see the trend continue with the addition of several new programs like a math academy and study skills classes.

"There are some encouraging results we are seeing early on (in these new programs)," Kasik said.