St. Charles ACT scores on the rise

For the second year in a row, the composite ACT score in St. Charles School District 303 rose, according to figures released Wednesday by the district.

Batavia's scores were up, too. But Geneva's and Kaneland's composites dipped.

The class of 2009 scored 23 out of 36, up from 22.7 for the class of 2008 in St. Charles.

The ACT is a college-entrance exam. All public school students in Illinois are required to take the test during the spring of their junior year. The composites also include the scores of all 2009 graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores or seniors also.

The Illinois State Board of Education released composite figures for the state to the public Wednesday. Some school districts also chose to then release their individual scores.

Mathematics scores increased from 23.1 to 23.6, science from 22.2 to 22.6, English from 22.4 to 22.7, and reading from 22.3 to 22.6 in St. Charles.

"These ACT results are clear evidence that the hard work all our teachers and staff are doing is paying dividends in preparing students for college success," District 303 Superintendent Don Schlomann said in a prepared statement.

In Batavia, all scores are up compared to last year, said Jan Wright, associate superintendent for teaching and learning. "We're very pleased," she said. Batavia students scored a composite of 23.2, English 22.9, 23.3 in mathematics. 23.2 in reading and 22.7 in science.

In Geneva, the composite score was 23.7, compared to 23.9 for the class of 2008. Teens scored 23.5 in mathematics, 22.9 in science, 24.2 in reading and 23.6 in English.

For Kaneland High School, the composite was 20.9, down from last year's 21.1.

West Aurora District 129 will release its figures at an upcoming school board meeting.

In Elgin School District U-46, the composite improved to 19.6 from 19.3 in 2008. It is the highest composite in five years, the district reported.