U-46 improves in ACT math and reading

High school students in Elgin Area District U-46 made gains in math and reading on the ACT, but test scores in science and English dipped slightly over last year's results, according to data recently released by the Iowa-based testing group.

Overall, the district's composite score for students who took the test during the spring of their junior year remained steady at 19.6 on a 36-point scale, the same as 2009. The 2,488 students tested made up the largest group to take the test in the past five years.

The most solid gains across the district were in reading where scores rose from 19.3 in 2009 to 19.6 in 2010. Math results inched up from 19.8 in 2009 to 19.9 in 2010. The state averages in reading and math were 20.8 and 20.7, respectively.

Science scores dropped from 19.7 to 19.6, while English scores were bumped down from 18.9 to 18.7. The district lags behind the state average in science by about 1 point, while English results are about 1.5 points below the state average.

Still, of the district's five high schools, three showed modest improvements in their composite scores. South Elgin High School increased from 19.5 in 2009 to 20 this year; Streamwood High School moved up from 18.3 to 18.8; and Elgin High School improved from 18.8 to 18.9. Bartlett High School's composite score remained the same at 21.3.

However, Larkin High School scores dropped almost a full point from 19.1 to 18.2.

District officials could not be reached for comment.