District U-46 test scores stay put
Elgin Area School District U-46's 2009 state test scores appear to be largely flat at the elementary level compared to last year, with a majority of schools unable to meet rising federal No Child Left Behind benchmarks.
According to a preliminary report by assessment consultant Ed DeYoung at Monday night's school board meeting, 23 of 40 elementary schools failed to meet state standards in reading and math this year, up from 19 last year.
For a school to be considered passing, 70 percent of students must either meet or exceed standards. The bar was set at 62.5 percent in 2008 and 55 percent in 2007. In 2014, it will be at 100 percent.
On the reading portion of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, general education third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade scores dropped by one to three points in each grade. Seventh-grade scores remained flat, with 86 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards both last year and this year. Eighth-graders improved by four points, from 85 percent to 89 percent.
For the second year in a row, English-language learners were required to take the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, alongside their native speaking peers. Previously, students new to English took a different exam. While math scores for ELL students were on par with those of general education students, in each grade, less than 45 percent of ELL students met standards in reading.
About 20 percent of U-46 students are English language learners, three times the state average.
On the math portion of the test, scores dropped by one to three points in third, sixth and eighth grades.
Fourth and eighth grades improved by a point apiece, and seventh-grade scores remained flat at 90 percent both years.
"We're making progress, but it's not enough to keep up with standards that increase by 7.5 percent a year," DeYoung said.
Superintendent Jose Torres also announced during the meeting that he will be providing oversight to schools that are the lowest performing.
Those schools are Garfield, Highland, Hillcrest and Lowrie elementaries in Elgin and Parkwood Elementary in Hanover Park. Torres said the principals at the five schools are not in "immediate jeopardy," but he noted "interventions are needed quickly for these schools in order to improve student achievements at all grades and in all student groups."
In addition to its 40 middle schools, U-46 - the state's second largest school district next to Chicago Public Schools - has eight middle schools and five high schools.
Information on the remaining 13 schools' performance on the ISAT and Prairie State Achievement Exam will be revealed in two weeks' time, DeYoung said.
Scores for individual elementary, middle and high schools will be released by the State Board of Education later this fall.
DeYoung told the board that he expects the school year ahead to be very challenging.
Scores: 20% of U-46 students are English language learners