112 Performance Up, State Report Card Rate Slips

Though there was an expected drop in the number of North Shore School District 112 students who meet or exceed standards on the Illinois Scholastic Aptitude test over last year, the academic performance of the students grew for the same period.

After the state upped the requirements for meeting or exceeding standards, 75 per cent of the students hit the mark, according to the Illinois Report Card website. A year ago 91 percent of the children met or exceeded the standardized test results.

“The decline does not mean that students know less than they did before, rather, rather it is reflective of the higher threshold set for meets and exceeds,” District 112 Communications director Andi Rosen said.

While there was a decrease in the test score performance standards, students showed an improved academic performance. They hit 104 percent of last year in reading and 103 percent in math while the state average was 102 percent in reading and 101 percent in math.

The significance of this number was not lost on District 112 superintendent David Behlow. “It is important to keep in mind that the ISAT is just one data point of many to measure student academic progress and school success,” he said.

Behlow believes too much is left out of the exam and could be more reflective of local children. “It doesn’t test for creativity, ingenuity, morality, critical thinking or flexibility, all of which our students need to become successful in life,” he said. “We are focusing our efforts on preparing students for what they will need in the future.”

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