ACT scores dip slightly in District 300

ACT scores, a key measure of high school performance, continued their roller-coaster ride in Community Unit District 300 this year, according to the district's latest scores released Tuesday.

Overall, the district's ACT score, out of a high of 36, dropped this year to 20.4, which is 0.4 below the state average, according to a news release. The overall score is down 0.2 from 2008 but above the 2007 district score of 20.1.

Especially concerning was the district's English score, which dropped half a point to 20, or 0.5 below the state average, the release said.

The results are in contrast to District 300's encouraging ACT report in 2008, which showed improvement in all four subject areas tested on the standardized test.

District 300 officials said Tuesday they need to step up their efforts to raise student performance at the high schools.

The other subject areas tested did not change much from last year. Math was up by 0.1, reading stayed the same and science dropped by 0.1, according to the release.

Hampshire High School fared the best of District 300's high schools. Juniors taking the ACT in the spring raised the school's overall score by 0.3 to bring the school even with the state average, the release said.

"We always like to see improvement," Hampshire Principal Chuck Bumbales said. "We've done a lot with test preparation and critical thinking. We like the fact that some of those initiatives have shown in the test scores."

Dundee-Crown High School did the worst. The overall score at the Carpentersville school dropped by 0.3, according to District 300. The high school's score is below the state average.

Jacobs High School in Algonquin remained above the state average and recorded the same score as last year, according to the district.

District officials noted in a release several steps they are taking this year to boost student achievement:

• Continuing to reorganize Dundee-Crown under a state-mandated plan.

• Changing curriculum to emphasize college readiness skills.

• Providing more opportunities for students to enroll in ACT preparation courses.

• Creating incentives for students to reward strong performance on the ACT.

• Writing class exam questions similar to questions students face on the ACT.