The results of the state’s tough new standardized test for elementary and high school students appears to be sending mixed signals in Chicago’s southwest suburbs.
For the most part, southwest suburban students scored well above state averages, even though some scores appeared to be less impressive than in previous years.
And while some local educators are responding to the state’s new educational standards with an all-out effort to re-invent what they do in the classroom, others are taking more of a wait-and-see attitude. The result is a murky picture of the overall impact of the new Illinois Standards Achievement Test.
“What I am sensing is that some boards of education feel like the state is infringing on local control, while others are accepting it hook, line and sinker,” said Supt. Christopher Ward of Lockport Township High School District 205. “It will be interesting to watch things play out.”
This is the first time the state has used the ISAT, which is part of a nationwide movement toward well-defined educational standards.
The ISAT tests are only one component of a two-pronged system to measure how well the state’s children are doing. The other component is “Illinois Learning Standards,” a 144-page document that details what students should know, and when they should know it. Teams of educators and experts devised the standards, which were used to design the ISAT.
One standard, for example, is that by early high school, a student should be able to interpret scale drawings and models using maps and blueprints.
The ISAT math test was written to measure whether students actually have this skill.
This contrasts with the Illinois Goal Assessment Program tests, which ISAT replaced. IGAP was not coupled with a set of standards. Instead, state educators used scores to estimate whether students met state goals, which were broadly defined.
Because ISAT is linked to well-defined standards, state officials believe it is more effective than IGAP in measuring whether students know what they should.
The ISAT was given in February in reading, writing and math in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. IGAP was given for the last time this year in science and social science in grades 4, 7 and 11.
Statewide, more than 40 percent of pupils failed to meet every educational standard on the ISAT. In nearly 900 of the state’s 3,700 schools, fewer than 50 percent of students performed at minimum standards.
What do the poor scores mean? There may be no straightforward answer, at least not in this first year of ISAT.
State officials have argued that because this is the first year, the seemingly bad results should come as no surprise. Many teachers, meanwhile, have criticized how the state introduced the test. State officials issued sample tests only about three months before the test was administered, which many teachers contend was not enough time to help pupils prepare.
Less-than-impressive results can be blamed on several factors, including students’ unfamiliarity with the exams and tougher state standards.
But school administrators’ failure to beef up course offerings to align with the new standards also played a significant role. According to a recent state board of education study, only 15 percent of the schools surveyed aligned courses to match the new educational standards.
Nowhere was that more evident than on the math ISAT, where 43 percent of Illinois students didn’t meet standards.
In Illinois, students take algebra–if they take it at all–in the 8th or 9th grade, and they take geometry in 10th or 11th grade. But the 8th-grade math ISAT includes algebraic equations, geometry and trigonometry. The 10th-grade test is heavy on geometry, even though many students do not master such concepts until the end of sophomore year. Consequently, if local educators want students to perform well on the math test, they likely will have to revamp the course of study–not an easy or inexpensive prospect.
Ed Tatro, assistant superintendent of New Lenox Elementary School District 122, said officials in his district are hesitant to make major curriculum modifications, because they fear the state will change course yet again.
“Changing the curriculum would be a major budgetary thing and quite honestly, just as IGAP changed, we believe the ISAT will change too,” Tatro said.
Gus Tomac, superintendent of Chaney-Monge Elementary School District 88 in Crest Hill, said officials in his district will make small curriculum alterations this year but will not make wholesale changes, even though many students fell below standards. Tomac said educators in his district have other issues to worry about, such as a high student mobility rate and a tax cap that is pinching financial resources.
“If people are expecting grandiose changes overnight, they are nuts,” Tomac said. “You are talking about changing habits and institutions that are not accustomed to rapid change. This is going to be a slow process.”
While many districts are proceeding cautiously in revamping the way they teach and when they teach, others have quickly aligned their course study.
In Orland Elementary School District 135, teachers began aligning curricula the moment the new state criteria came out in 1997. They even gave parents a copy of the new standards. The result: Students beat state averages in every test and outperformed most of their counterparts in the six-county region.
“We take these standards very seriously,” said Sandra Eliason, curriculum coordinator for the district. “Our objective is not to make sure students score well on the test, but to make sure they can perform at a higher level so they can compete in the world. We believe these standards will help prepare our students for the future.”
But as students in Palos Community Consolidated Elementary School District 118 demonstrated, major curriculum adjustments are not always fundamental to high test scores. On every exam, students in the district posted scores in the top 15 percent in the six-county region, despite few changes in their course of study. On at least three tests, they posted scores in the top 10 percent in the state.
Marianne Kroll, curriculum coordinator, attributes the impressive showing to the district’s “concept-based teaching” method, which spreads ideas across subjects and forces students to employ deeper thinking skills.
“I don’t think the ISAT, in many cases, expected students to know new or different subjects. I think it expected kids to use a higher level of thinking about subjects they already know,” Kroll said. “Many kids can do math, but they can’t always explain how they got the answer. I think these tests have more of an emphasis on thinking than on memorization.”
%% ISAT tests
3RD GRADE READING State avg.: 160.2 COUNTY SCORE
TOP 5 IN 6-COUNTY REGION
1. Decatur Classical Elem. School C 189.2
2. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 183.3
3. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 182.4
4. Bannockburn Elem. School L 178.3
5. Skinner Elem. School C 176.7
5TH GRADE READING State avg.: 159.5
1. Hilltop Elem. School M 186.0
2. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 184.3
3. Decatur Classical Elem. School C 182.9
4. Central Elem. School C 182.4
5. Lake Bluff Middle School L 182.0
8TH GRADE READING State avg.: 159.1
1. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 185.7
2. Young Magnet High School C 184.9
3. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 182.8
4. Bannockburn Elem. School L 178.8
5. Keller Elem. Gifted Magnet School C 177.6
10TH GRADE READING State avg.: 159.8
1. Young Magnet High School C 175.8
2. New Trier Township High School C 172.9
3. Lake Forest High School L 172.7
4. Hinsdale Central High School D 171.3
5. Glenbrook North High School C 169.8
3RD GRADE MATH State avg.: 160.0
1. Decatur Classical Elem. School C 191.6
2. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 187.5
3. Willard Elem. School C 182.6
4. Lincoln Elem. School C 181.0
5.Westmoor Elem. School C 181.0
5TH GRADE MATH State avg.: 159.3
1. Decatur Classical Elem. School C 185.1
2. Lake Bluff Middle School L 185.0
3. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctrr. C 182.7
4. Blythe Park Elem. School C 181.9
5. Lincoln Elem. School C 179.9
8TH GRADE MATH State avg.: 158.4
1. Young Magnet School C 192.3
2. Avoca West Elem. School C 190.0
3. Marie Murphy School C 185.7
4. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr C 182.3
5. Carelton W. Washburne School C 181.5
10TH GRADE MATH State avg.: 158.7
1. New Trier Township High School C 178.2
2. Glenbrook North High School C 176.9
3. Young Magnet High School C 175. 2
4. Naperville Central High School D 175.1
5. Naperville North High School D 175.1
3RD GRADE WRITING State avg.: 21.4
1. Blythe Park Elem. School C 29.0
2. Beebe Elem. School D 28.7
3. Gower West Elem. School D 28.1
4. Palos West Elem. School C 28.1
5. Hough Street Elem. School L 28.0
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5TH GRADE WRITING State avg.: 23.6
1. Longfellow Elem. School D 30.2
2. George B. Carpenter Elem. School C 30.0
3. Forest View Elem. School C 29.7
4. Marion Jordan Elem School C 29.4
5. Elm Elem. School D 29.4
8TH GRADE WRITING State avg.: 20.7
1. Young Magnet High School C 26.6
2. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 26.4
3. Keller Elem. Gifted Magnet School C 26.3
4. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 26.1
5. Gower Middle School D 26.0
10TH GRADE WRITING State avg.: 21.8
1. Lake Forest High School L 26.7
2. Adlai E. Stevenson High School L 26.5
3. Hinsdale Central High School D 26.1
4. Highland Park High School L 26.0
5. Glenbrook North High School C 26.0
IGAP tests
4TH GRADE SCIENCE State avg.: 236 COUNTY SCORE
TOP 5 IN 6-COUNTY REGION
1. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 395
2. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 390
3. Decatur Classical Elem. School C 381
4. Oriole Park Elem. School C 373
5. Skinner Elem. School C 359
7TH GRADE SCIENCE State avg.: 240
1. Young Magnet High School C 391
2. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 387
3. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 383
4. Wilmette Junior High School C 344
5. Lincoln Elem. School C 341
11TH GRADE SCIENCE State avg.: 250
1. New Trier Township High School, C 324
Lake Forest High School L 324
2. Young Magnet High School C 318
3. Hinsdale Central High School D 317
4. Adlai E. Stevenson High School L 316
5. Libertyville High School-Butler Lake L 314
4TH GRADE SOC. SCIENCE State avg.: 245
1. Oriole Park Elem. School C 426
2. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 420
3. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 415
4. Oak Elem. School D 397
5. Skinner Elem. School C 394
7TH GRADE SOC. SCIENCE State avg.: 232
1. Edison Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 441
2. Lenart Elem. Regional Gifted Ctr. C 426
3. Young Magnet High School C 415
4. Keller Elem. Gifted Magnet School C 377
5. Morgan Park High School, C 368
LaSalle Elem. Language Academy C 368
11TH GRADE SOC. SCIENCE Sate avg.: 230
1. Lake Forest High School L 339
2. Young Magnet High School C 330
3. Hinsdale Central High School D 329
4. New Trier Township High School C 328
5. Glenbrook North High School C 322
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Regional high schools
By per-pupil spending
State average: $6,682
A. COUNTY
B. SPENDING
C. ACT
D. READING 10th
E. MATH 10th
F. WRITING 10th
G. SCIENCE 11th
H. SOC. SCIENCE 11th
FIVE HIGHEST A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
Township HS Dist. 113 L $15,483 25.5 168 172 26 294 299
Lake Forest Comm. HS Dist. 115 L 15,200 24.7 173 174 27 324 339
Evanston Township HS Dist. 202 C 14,367 22.1 163 166 23 278 282
New Trier Township HS Dist. 203 C 13,528 26.2 173 178 26 324 328
Oak Park and River Forest Dist. 200 C 13,025 22.8 167 168 25 282 288
FIVE LOWEST A. B. C. D. E F. G. H.
Grayslake Comm HS Dist. 127 L $7,791 22.1 164 164 23 282 280
Lockport Township HS Dist. 205 W 7,762 22.5 163 164 23 272 252
Lincoln Way Comm. HS Dist. 210 W 6,970 22.8 166 164 24 266 257
McHenry Comm. HS Dist. 156 M 6,261 21.6 162 161 24 254 243
Marengo Comm. HS Dist. 154 M 5,699 23.0 161 161 21 282 260
By average teacher salary
State average: $45,337
FIVE HIGHEST A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
Township HS Dist. 113 L $79,333 25.5 168 172 26 294 299
Township HS Dist. 211 L 76,743 22.5 164 168 24 279 264
Niles Township Comm. HS Dist. 219 C 76,003 22.4 165 169 25 282 275
Lyons Township HS Dist. 204 C 74,661 23.6 166 168 24 288 287
Township HS Dist. 214 C 73,848 22.5 196 166 24 267 260
FIVE LOWEST A. B. C. D. E F. G. H.
McHenry Comm. HS Dist. 156 L $50,691 21.6 162 161 24 254 243
Joliet Township HS Dist. 204 W 50,687 21.6 155 154 22 228 257
Grayslake Comm. HS Dist. 127 W 46,955 22.1 164 164 23 283 280
Richmond-Burton Comm. HS Dist. 157 M 42,271 22.4 165 162 24 287 250
Marengo Comm. HS Dist. 154 M 40,425 23.0 161 161 21 282 260
By average administrator salary
State average: $76,917
FIVE HIGHEST A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
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Leyden Comm. HS Dist. 212 C $121,766 21.3 158 161 23 253 241
Evanston Township HS Dist. 202 C 114,443 22.1 163 166 23 278 282
Township HS Dist. 113 L 109,933 25.5 168 172 25 294 298
New Trier Township HS Dist. 203 C 108,217 26.2 173 178 26 324 328
Homewood Flossmoor CHSD 233 C 106,663 22.7 165 166 25 279 270
FIVE LOWEST A. B. C. D. E F. G. H.
Bremen Comm. HS Dist. 228 C $81,348 20.8 155 158 20 241 213
Antioch Comm. HS Dist. 117 L 80,841 21.8 161 150 24 264 245
Evergreen Park Comm. HS Dist. 231 C 77,541 19.9 161 158 23 235 215
Lemont Township HS Dist. 210 C 74,740 22.3 164 162 22 262 253
Marengo Comm. HS Dist. 154 C 67,175 23.0 161 161 21 282 260
Regional elementary schools
By per-pupil spending
State average: $6,682
FIVE HIGHEST READING MATH
COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 3RD 5TH 8TH
Rondout School Dist. 72 L $14,718 157 168 175 159 172 175
Butler School Dist. 53 D 12,070 171 168 173 176 174 178
Bannockburn School Dist. 106 L 11,158 178 172 179 172 171 177
Northbrook Elem. School Dist. 27 C 10,827 169 168 166 172 173 173
Avoca School Dist. 37 C 10,743 172 172 174 180 174 188
WRITING SCIENCE SOC. SCI.
COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 4TH 7TH 4TH 7TH
Rondout School Dist. 72 L $14,718 21 25 24 312 272 312 300
Butler School Dist. 53 D 12,070 25 28 26 286 296 312 341
Bannockburn School Dist. 106 L 11,158 25 24 24 290 332 307 338
Northbrook Elem. School Dist. 27 C 10,827 25 27 24 288 296 299 331
Avoca School Dist. 37 C 10,743 25 28 24 289 336 303 343
FIVE LOWEST READING MATH
COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 3RD 5TH 8TH
Elwood C C School Dist. 203 W $4,039 162 159 159 160 158 156
Peotone C U School Dist. 207U W 3,963 170 162 156 170 165 166
New Lenox School Dist. 122 W 3,918 166 166 165 166 167 165
Lockport School Dist. 91 W 3,828 164 159 161 161 159 163
Will County School Dist. 92 W 3,775 162 161 161 162 162 162
WRITING SCIENCE SOC. SCI.
COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 4TH 7TH 4TH 7TH
Elwood C C School Dist. 203 W $4,039 20 24 22 271 257 303 245
Peotone C U School Dist. 207U W 3,963 24 24 21 268 274 284 262
New Lenox School Dist. 122 W 3,918 24 27 24 280 283 310 278
Lockport School Dist. 91 W 3,828 22 25 22 211 244 254 225
Will County School Dist. 92 W 3,775 22 24 22 239 271 259 263
By average teacher salary
State average: $45,357
READING MATH
FIVE HIGHEST COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 3RD 5TH 8TH
Butler School Dist. 53 D $62,515 171 168 173 176 174 178
Kenilworth School Dist. 38 C 61,049 168 174 173 167 176 181
Westmont C U School Dist. 201 D 58,392 168 165 166 169 169 167
Niles Elem. School Dist. 71 C 57,135 165 161 165 168 165 169
Barrington C U School Dist. 220 L 56,920 168 166 167 169 170 172
WRITING SCIENCE SOC. SCI.
COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 4TH 7TH 4TH 7TH
Butler School Dist. 53 D $62,515 25 28 26 286 296 312 341
Kenilworth School Dist. 38 C 61,049 25 29 24 321 335 339 347
Westmont C U School Dist. 201 D 58,392 21 25 24 308 283 334 291
Niles Elem. School Dist. 71 C 57,135 21 27 23 263 239 289 245
Barrington C U School Dist. 220 L 56,920 24 26 24 290 290 313 304
READING MATH
FIVE LOWEST COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 3RD 5TH 8TH
Mokena School Dist. 159 W $32,176 166 163 165 166 162 165
Richmond Cons School Dist. 13 M 31,895 167 165 165 163 167 166
Elwood C C School Dist. 203 W 30,960 162 159 159 160 158 156
Sandridge School Dist. 172 C 29,901 156 156 158 155 156 157
Union School Dist. 81 W 27,820 158 152 164 162 154 162
WRITING SCIENCE SOC. SCI.
COUNTY SPENDING 3RD 5TH 8TH 4TH 7TH 4TH 7TH
Mokena School Dist. 159 W $32,176 23 25 24 250 272 258 264
Richmond Cons School Dist. 13 M 31,895 22 25 22 252 293 259 290
Elwood C C School Dist. 203 W 30,960 20 24 22 271 257 303 245
Sandridge School Dist. 172 C 29,901 22 20 22 245 241 263 266
Union School Dist. 81 W 27,820 22 21 22 196 227 234 201
%% ———-
Individual school scores and other data released by the Illinois State Board of Education are available on the baiduhai’s Internet site at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/go/schools/