Illinois State Board of education | Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Donna S. Leak (2023)
Illinois State Board of education | Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Donna S. Leak (2023)
That's according to a Carbondale Reporter analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 43.4% of Williamson County's 4,197 public high school students failed the ELA portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and have "minimal (or) incomplete… understanding of the knowledge and skills relative to Illinois Learning Standards."
Students can achieve four proficiencies in their subjects (partially met, approaching, meets, and exceeds standards). This report concludes students who partially met or approached the standards have failed in the subject.
Washington Middle School (59.9%), Herrin Community Unit School District 4 Elementary School (48.3%) and Crab Orchard Elementary School (48%) had the highest failure rates in Williamson County. Meanwhile, Washington Elementary School (34.5%) and Adams School (26.9%) had the lowest.
Of 14 Williamson County high schools, 13, including Herrin Community Unit School District 4 Elementary School, Crab Orchard Elementary School, and Marion Junior High School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 50.6% in 2021 to 43.4% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in one Williamson County high school in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Herrin Community Unit School District 4 Elementary School (48.3%).
Data shows that the highest failure rates growths were seen in Christian County (72.5%), Hancock County (73.8%), Cook County (74.1%), White County (74.1%), and Morgan County (76.7%).
Statewide, 39.9% of Illinois students failed the 2023 state English exam, down from 64% in 2019.
The SAT test is administered to Illinois high school sophomores "to fulfill the requirement that students take an assessment for college and career readiness in order to receive a regular high school diploma."
| High School | # of Students | Failing % in 2021 | Failing % in 2022 | Failing % in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Middle School | 307 | 63.8% | 68.9% | 59.9% |
| Herrin Community Unit School District 4 Elementary School | 491 | 50.2% | 46% | 48.3% |
| Crab Orchard Elementary School | 204 | 58.2% | 48% | 48% |
| Marion Junior High School | 700 | 50.8% | 51.3% | 47.6% |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 137 | 51.2% | 52.2% | 46% |
| Herrin Middle School | 472 | 51.8% | 48.7% | 42.8% |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 233 | 54% | 45.5% | 40.8% |
| Carterville Junior High School | 361 | 40.6% | 43.8% | 40.1% |
| Carterville Intermediate School | 516 | 47.6% | 40.5% | 38.5% |
| Jefferson Elementary School | 108 | 61.6% | 52.6% | 38% |
| Longfellow Elementary School | 108 | 54% | 41.2% | 37% |
| Tri-C Elementary School | 182 | 36.3% | 39.6% | 35.1% |
| Washington Elementary School | 229 | 43.3% | 37.9% | 34.5% |
| Adams School | 149 | 50.9% | 32.1% | 26.9% |
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