Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye (2023) | Illinois State Board of education
That's according to a South Central Reporter analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 44.8% of Bond County's 835 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.
Mulberry Grove Junior High School (66.7%) had the highest failure rates in Bond County. Meanwhile, Mulberry Grove Elementary School (38.5%) had the lowest.
Of five Bond County high schools, four, including Pocahontas Center, Greenville Junior High School, and Greenville Elementary School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 58.1% in 2021 to 44.8% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in two Bond County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Mulberry Grove Junior High School (66.7%).
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%).
Greenville Junior High School, Greenville Elementary School, and Mulberry Grove Elementary School were the Bond County high schools 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Grove Junior High School | 78 | 56.3% | 42.3% | 66.7% |
| Pocahontas Center | 126 | 44.5% | 37.9% | 46.8% |
| Greenville Junior High School | 287 | 60.7% | 50.2% | 45.3% |
| Greenville Elementary School | 279 | 59.5% | 43.4% | 38.7% |
| Mulberry Grove Elementary School | 65 | 63.3% | 47.7% | 38.5% |
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