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) | Illinois State Board of education
That's according to a NW Illinois News analysis of test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 45.3% of Jo Daviess County's 1,066 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.
Scales Mound Elementary School (63.8%), Scales Mound Junior High School (52.4%) and Galena Primary School (50.9%) had the highest failure rates in Jo Daviess County. Meanwhile, East Dubuque Junior High (30.7%) and Warren Elementary School (30.1%) had the lowest.
Of 10 Jo Daviess County high schools, six, including Warren Junior and Senior High School, River Ridge Elementary School, and River Ridge Middle School had passing rates of more than 50%.
Countywide, English test failure rates fell from 49.6% in 2021 to 45.3% in 2023.
The failure rate rose in four Jo Daviess County high schools in 2023, with the most significant increase happening at Scales Mound Junior High School (52.4%).
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%).
River Ridge Middle School, East Dubuque Elementary School, and Warren Elementary School were the Jo Daviess 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scales Mound Elementary School | 47 | 65% | 72.2% | 63.8% |
| Scales Mound Junior High School | 61 | 40% | 47.5% | 52.4% |
| Galena Primary School | 104 | 54.6% | 48.7% | 50.9% |
| Galena Middle School | 258 | 51.5% | 54.3% | 50.4% |
| Warren Junior and Senior High School | 88 | 35.7% | 46.9% | 47.7% |
| River Ridge Elementary School | 75 | 42.4% | 51.3% | 46.7% |
| River Ridge Middle School | 97 | 66% | 62.8% | 43.3% |
| East Dubuque Elementary School | 168 | 52.9% | 44.9% | 40.5% |
| East Dubuque Junior High | 88 | 34.1% | 30.3% | 30.7% |
| Warren Elementary School | 80 | 46.8% | 44.3% | 30.1% |
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