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 McHenry Times analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 47% of McHenry County's 20,833 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.
Harrison Elementary School (63.2%), Chauncey H. Duker School (61%) and Fox River Grove Middle School (60.1%) had the highest failure rates in McHenry County. Meanwhile, Prairie Grove Elementary School (33.7%) and Eastview Elementary School (28.1%) had the lowest.
Of 62 McHenry County high schools, 42, including Coventry Elementary School, Richard F. Bernotas Middle School, and Deer Path Elementary School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 50.2% in 2021 to 47.0% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in 24 McHenry County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Husmann Elementary School (52.3%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Elementary School | 239 | 61.3% | 63.2% | 63.2% |
| Chauncey H. Duker School | 382 | 54.4% | 55.4% | 61% |
| Fox River Grove Middle School | 173 | 52.2% | 52.9% | 60.1% |
| Harvard Junior High School | 523 | 59.6% | 54.5% | 59.8% |
| Alden-Hebron Elementary School | 94 | 57.4% | 54% | 59.6% |
| Lake In The Hills Elementary School | 234 | 56.8% | 58.8% | 59.4% |
| Jefferson Elementary School | 370 | 52.7% | 52.6% | 58.4% |
| Johnsburg Junior High School | 335 | 51.8% | 54.6% | 56.4% |
| Marengo Community Middle School | 298 | 52.5% | 57.6% | 55.7% |
| Johnsburg Elementary School | 362 | 60.3% | 53% | 55.5% |
| Parkland School | 673 | 59.5% | 60.3% | 54.6% |
| Lundahl Middle School | 797 | 50.8% | 55.4% | 54.5% |
| McHenry Middle School | 684 | 53% | 59% | 53.2% |
| Landmark Elementary School | 99 | 52.8% | 66.7% | 52.5% |
| Husmann Elementary School | 247 | 50% | 44.1% | 52.3% |
| Glacier Ridge Elementary School | 201 | 45.4% | 53.2% | 51.7% |
| Briargate Elementary School | 240 | 50.6% | 45.9% | 50.9% |
| Dean Street Elementary School | 189 | 48.8% | 45.2% | 50.8% |
| Cotton Creek School | 276 | 56.1% | 48.5% | 50.3% |
| Indian Prairie Elementary School | 208 | 46.5% | 48.7% | 50% |
| Coventry Elementary School | 315 | 46.5% | 44.7% | 49.8% |
| Richard F. Bernotas Middle School | 764 | 41.9% | 54.4% | 49.8% |
| Deer Path Elementary School | 299 | 50% | 54.9% | 48.8% |
| Hannah Beardsley Middle School | 832 | 51.6% | 59.1% | 48.2% |
| Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School | 216 | 61.6% | 50% | 48.1% |
| Riverwood Elementary School | 282 | 51.5% | 43.4% | 47.8% |
| Hilltop Elementary School | 130 | 36% | 47% | 47.7% |
| Heineman Middle School | 734 | 56.1% | 51.6% | 47.6% |
| South Elementary School | 193 | 49.5% | 50% | 47.2% |
| Algonquin Middle School | 389 | 47.2% | 48.5% | 47.1% |
| North Elementary School | 339 | 46.1% | 43.3% | 46.9% |
| Conley Elementary School | 536 | 47.9% | 47.1% | 46.8% |
| Mary Endres Elementary School | 246 | 55.3% | 51.8% | 46.7% |
| Greenwood Elementary School | 145 | 45% | 47% | 46.2% |
| Locust Elementary School | 122 | 50.5% | 54.6% | 45.9% |
| Richmond Grade School | 209 | 50.9% | 45.2% | 45.9% |
| Valley View Elementary School | 266 | 45.3% | 47.4% | 45.9% |
| Martin Elementary School | 762 | 46.4% | 42.7% | 45.4% |
| Spring Grove Elementary School | 130 | 53.9% | 44.5% | 45.4% |
| Alden-Hebron Middle School | 85 | 58.6% | 66% | 44.7% |
| Canterbury Elementary School | 213 | 39.3% | 51.4% | 44.2% |
| Prairiewood Elementary School | 224 | 52.9% | 50% | 43.8% |
| Leggee Elementary School | 443 | 43.1% | 46.1% | 43.6% |
| Nippersink Middle School | 390 | 41.3% | 48.1% | 42.8% |
| Woods Creek Elementary School | 270 | 47.3% | 39.8% | 42.6% |
| Lincoln Prairie Elementary School | 189 | 64.7% | 52.3% | 41.8% |
| Prairie Grove Junior High School | 321 | 46.6% | 47.9% | 41.7% |
| Cary Junior High School | 666 | 53.9% | 46.9% | 41.6% |
| West Elementary School | 278 | 47.7% | 43.9% | 41.4% |
| Riley Community Consolidated School | 197 | 44.5% | 39.6% | 41.1% |
| Three Oaks School | 236 | 49.5% | 44.4% | 41.1% |
| Kenneth E. Neubert Elementary School | 219 | 44.5% | 36.8% | 40.1% |
| Edgebrook Elementary School | 83 | 40.3% | 41% | 39.8% |
| Crosby Elementary School | 171 | 38.6% | 35.4% | 39.7% |
| Westwood Elementary School | 203 | 34% | 42.8% | 39.4% |
| Olson Elementary School | 208 | 43.8% | 44.4% | 38% |
| Algonquin Road Elementary School | 82 | 33.3% | 41.8% | 37.9% |
| Northwood Middle School | 619 | 47.7% | 45.9% | 37.3% |
| Creekside Middle School | 709 | 43% | 40.5% | 34.3% |
| Marlowe Middle School | 1153 | 53.1% | 43.9% | 33.7% |
| Prairie Grove Elementary School | 163 | 49.8% | 37.2% | 33.7% |
| Eastview Elementary School | 178 | 43.5% | 38.5% | 28.1% |
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