NW Illinois News

In a year when 89 percent of Sterling High School seniors graduated on time, 53 percent of those who attended Illinois community colleges had to enroll in remedial courses because they weren't prepared for college-level classes, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education for the Class of 2015.

Data from the class that graduated in 2015 shows 64 percent of Sterling students enrolled in two- or four-year programs at college or university within 12 months of graduating high school, compared to 70 percent across the state. After 16 months, the rate is 66 percent.

Of the 53 percent of Sterling graduates who took remedial courses at Illinois community colleges, 37 percent took remedial courses in math and 36 percent took remedial courses in communications.

Statewide, 47 percent of students enrolled in community colleges across the state had to take remedial classes.

Remediation for area schools: Class of 2015