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 Southern Illinois News analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 49.5% of Union County's 1,074 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.
Dongola Junior High School (68.6%), Shawnee Junior High School (66.1%) and Dongola Elementary School (62%) had the highest failure rates in Union County. Meanwhile, Anna Junior High School (44%) and Jonesboro Elementary School (34.9%) had the lowest.
Of 10 Union County high schools, four, including Shawnee Elementary School, Cobden Elementary School, and Anna Junior High School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 53.2% in 2021 to 49.5% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in five Union County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Dongola Elementary School (62%).
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%).
Jonesboro Elementary School was the only Union County high school to see improvements between 2021 and 2023.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dongola Junior High School | 51 | 61.7% | 57.4% | 68.6% |
| Shawnee Junior High School | 62 | 66% | 67.3% | 66.1% |
| Dongola Elementary School | 50 | 56.2% | 40.4% | 62% |
| Lick Creek Elementary School | 84 | 56.8% | 61.6% | 58.4% |
| Davie Elementary School | 122 | 49.5% | 50.9% | 55.7% |
| Cobden Junior High School | 91 | 65% | 42.8% | 55% |
| Shawnee Elementary School | 73 | 50% | 51.5% | 49.3% |
| Cobden Elementary School | 89 | 59.4% | 45.8% | 47.2% |
| Anna Junior High School | 243 | 40.3% | 53.2% | 44% |
| Jonesboro Elementary School | 209 | 90% | 41.7% | 34.9% |
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