District 94 measures growth, not just achievement

The fervor over standardized testing has left many parents and community members wondering whether students are actually achieving.

At Community High School District 94 in West Chicago, we believe standardized testing does not show the complete picture of student learning. However, it does play a role in determining the growth of a student from when they enter as a freshman until they graduate.

At District 94, we believe achievement and growth have distinct definitions. Using a high jump analogy, the goal of achievement tests is to ask, "Can you jump over this bar?" with the bar being a standardized test benchmark. The goal of growth is to ask, "Can you continue to jump higher?" no matter where you have started from.

To monitor our students' individual growth, we use a series of tests created by ACT known as EPAs. This, coupled with internal measures, or grades, determines whether a student is experiencing growth from year to year. The first test, administered in eighth grade, is the Explore test.

This test assesses English, math, reading and science. We use these scores to assist us in placing students in appropriate classes their freshman year. We also use these scores as a starting point to track their growth while at Community High School.

The second assessment, given during the freshman year is called the Plan test. Like the Explore, this test measures English, math, reading and science. Using a retired ACT test, sophomores take it not only to assess the four major content areas, but also to give them a practice opportunity before taking the ACT their junior year.

Then, finally, the actual ACT is given to juniors in the spring of their junior year. As the state transitions from ACT to the PARCC test, we anticipate PARCC will be able to measure student growth from freshman to senior year.

One final measure of student growth is STAR. This assessment measures only math and reading, but as it is given three times per year (September, January and May), it gives us a great deal of data to see whether students are growing as expected throughout the school year.

ACT's research has shown that based on a student's eighth-grade Explore score, they can predict the student's progress through high school. Data shows that our students are growing as research predicts. Our students are meeting that predicted ACT score in all tested areas - English, math, reading and science.

Looking at data from the Explore, Plan, ACT, STAR and course grades for each individual student, we have a complete picture of our student's growth. We are pleased with the performance and growth of our students. District 94 students are experiencing growth that is consistent with all other high schools in Illinois.

Future goals for the district include continued articulation with our feeder districts, to improve upon our annual growth rates to help students grow at better than one grade level per year, to improve our mechanisms and methods of instruction to help students to achieve at higher levels, and to allow for the evolution of our curriculum to challenge students daily.

• Douglas Domeracki is superintendent of Community High School District 94. His column appears monthly in Neighbor during the school year.