Glenbard schools' ACT scores dip, AP scores strong

A review of student performance across Glenbard High School District 87 reinforces some shortfalls detected by standardized tests but also illuminates some successes, officials say.

The district recently completed its first comprehensive student achievement report to give administrators and school board members a better understanding of the effectiveness of the district's programs, said Pam Zimmermann, District 87's associate superintendent for educational services.

Some of the information has spurred a closer examination of courses.

"We've got to have high expectations, rigor and exposure," Superintendent Michael Meissen said.

The ACT data for the district showed a slight drop in 2007 after four years of increasing scores.

But there's a greater concern: the ACT organization determined only 29 percent of Glenbard's 2007 graduates met all four college readiness benchmark scores, Zimmermann said.

"ACT really wants us to look at these to ensure we're really preparing kids for college education," she said.

Two tests administered by the district -- Explore and Plan -- revealed students in the class of 2009 from Glenbard West and Glenbard South made appropriate gains in English, math and reading, according to benchmarks.

But students at Glenbard East and Glenbard North didn't make similar progress.

Glenbard West and Glenbard North students also didn't make desired gains in science.

"Some buildings and some subject areas are exceeding those goals, some meeting, and some (show areas) that deserve our concerted attention," Zimmermann wrote in her report.

On a positive note, 83 percent of Glenbard students who took advanced placement tests got passing grades, which is a rate 20 percent higher than national averages.

In 2007, 1,070 Glenbard students took 3,250 exams in 23 of 37 areas, sponsored by the College Board Advanced Placement division. That 50 percent jump over the prior year solely was due to 160 Glenbard East students taking the English exam after taking a new advance placement test offered for the first time.

"Our teachers, when challenged, our students, when challenged, can make impressive gains like this," Zimmermann said. "This is a really wonderful story."

The high passing rate on those exams, for which some universities will give college credit, has administrators suggesting more students should be encouraged to tackle the rigorous classes.