Eight District 186 schools move to 'commendable' level; some test scores, rates lag

While eight elementary schools in School District 186 moved into the "commendable" category, the district lags behind the state in graduation rates and chronic absenteeism, according to the 2022 Illinois State Board of Education report card, released Thursday.

The percentage of elementary-age students taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness who "did not meet" or "partially met" achieving performance levels rose as did the percentage of high schoolers taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) who "partially met" or "approached" achieving performance levels.

Statewide, numbers from standardized tests administered last spring show steep declines in the percentage of students who met or exceeded state standards in English language arts and mathematics.

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The report card provides a snapshot of student performance and school data from the 2021-22 year. In addition to test scores, the report card contains a wide range of education metrics such as graduation rates, class sizes and teacher qualifications.

The effects of COVID-19 over the past three years cannot be dismissed, Superintendent Jennifer Gill acknowledged.

"Not having test scores for two full years has left a big gap in us being able to look at trend data or anything else," Gill said. "We were so used to looking at three years to five years to seven years of trend data. Now, it really needs to be a start over and use this data as a kickoff to our next three- to five-year look.

"This is really a new baseline for us."

Much like initiatives started in the district, Gill projected it would be an overall "three- to five-year recovery" for the district from the effects of the pandemic, including students who engaged in online learning or who were otherwise affected by COVID.

Eight of the schools that moved up to the "commendable" level were Dubois, Enos, Graham, Fairview, Feitshans, Hazel Dell, McClernand and Wilcox.

"Commendable" means there are no subgroups performing at or below the level of the “all students” group in the lowest-performing 5 percent of Title I-eligible schools, a graduation rate above 67 percent, and whose performance is not in the top 10 percent of schools statewide. Schools whose performance is in the top 10 percent are rated exemplary.

"A commendable rating cannot be done without staff and parent support to really buy in to support our students," said Fairview principal Patricia Nikson.

Four schools, according to ISBE, are "targeted" because one or more student groups were performing at or below the "all students" group threshold for commendable status. Those schools were Harvard Park, Ridgely and Matheny elementary schools and Grant Middle School.

Four schools -- Jefferson and Washington middle schools, Lanphier High School and Edwin Lee Elementary -- were in the comprehensive category meaning that all student groups did not meet the threshold for commendable status.

Before the pandemic, 14 schools were in the "improvement" category, including eight "targeted" and six "comprehensive," Gill said.

"It's good news, but it doesn't mean our work is over. The key message here is work we've done with learning recovery is beginning to show small amounts of impact," she said.

In addition to regular classwork, tutoring through ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding is paying dividends along with partnerships created with The Outlet, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois, Compass and the YMCA, Gill added.

The district is behind in graduation, at a 71.3% rate compared to the 86.8% state level with Lanphier having the lowest at 55%.

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The percentage of first-time ninth-grade students who have earned at least five-course credits without failing more than 0.5 course credits in their core subjects (reading, math, science and social studies) jumped from 2021 at all three high schools, including a 14% rise at Lanphier.

The dropout rate for district students was three times higher than the state number, 7.5% compared to 2.5%. Chronic absenteeism and chronically truant students in the district were also well above the state level.

District 11th graders who "partially met" or "approached" state learning standards on the SAT rose from 68.7% in 2021 to 80.2% in 2022.

The percentage of district students taking the readiness -- IAR test -- who "did not meet" or "partially met" standards rose in 2022 from 2021 in both English language arts (57.1% from 56.3%) and mathematics (66.2% from 66.1%).

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield's District 186 fared in Illinois education report