D. 211: New math test adds up to college readiness

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 is likely to start giving a new standardized math test to some juniors that could better prepare them for college classes.

Superintendent Nancy Robb on Thursday called the COMPASS program, a collaboration with Harper College, a "huge leap forward."

The tests, which would be administered during a single class period, could give District 211 faculty a better measurement of a student's math abilities and get them help in math, if needed, before they attend college.

The tests would be a way for students, once they get to Harper or presumably other colleges, to avoid having to take noncredit math classes to catch up.

According to district documents, Harper officials have said many freshmen students who were poorly prepared in math grew frustrated when placed in these developmental, noncredit courses, and those students were more likely to drop out of college.

Many of the students who have to take these noncredit math courses in college are those who didn't take any math classes during their senior year of high school, Harper and District 211 officials said.

District 211 would use to the COMPASS test results to help identify students who could benefit from taking senior-year math and encourage them to do so.

The COMPASS test was created by the ACT college entrance exam company.

The District 211 board did not vote on the matter Thursday but could institute the tests before the next school year begins. They'd likely be given before January.

About 800 students from District 211 have attended Harper over the past three years, about a quarter of all District 211 graduates.

Students in some junior algebra classes would be targeted for testing, though not all students would be required to take the test. Those in accelerated classes, for examples, would likely be excused.

"Those students would have no problem" transitioning to college math classes, Robb said.