McHenry Times

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) stated 26.8 percent of Harvard High School's 2015 senior class was "college ready."

The state average for college readiness in 2015 was 46 percent. Northside College Preparatory High School (98.1 percent) had the highest college readiness rate in the state. Robeson High School (zero percent) had the lowest.

All students who score a 21 on the ACT qualify as "college ready."

"(This score) shows that students have learned important academic skills that they will need in order to succeed in college and careers," ISBE wrote in its analysis. "While academic preparation is an essential part of readiness for college and careers, students also need persistence, motivation, time management, and technical skills."

HHS students did better on science (22.9 percent) and English (41.8 percent), and worse on math (19.0) and reading (20.3).

Only 9.2 percent of HHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE. That's down from 12.9 in 2014.

The 2015 state average for college readiness in all four subjects was 25 percent.

Among high schools in McHenry County, class of 2015 college readiness rates at Prairie Ridge High School (71.8 percent), Cary-Grove Community High School (71.4 percent), Crystal Lake South High School (62.2 percent) and Johnsburg High School (53.2 percent) were all higher than at HHS. Enrollment at HHS in 2015 was 691; 182 students (26.34 percent) were freshmen; 166 (24.02 percent) were seniors.