Elmhurst D205 Cuts Gap Among Students: Stats

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 is reducing the gap in test scores between low- and higher-income students, according to statistics.

The spring results from the test known as NWEA MAP show that 56 percent of local students are in the 61st percentile or above for math. That means they are outperforming at least 61 percent of students nationally. The test is for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The local number is a 2.5 percent improvement from a year earlier, according to the district.

For low-income students, 19.2 percent of students are in the 61st percentile or above. That's a 4 percent improvement from the year before.

In reading, 58.4 percent of all students are in the 61st percentile or above. For low-income students, 23.3 percent of students are in the 61st percentile or above. That's a 5.9 percent increase from the year before, the district said.

"We are making gains in our gap reduction goal, especially in the area of math," Kevin Rubenstein, assistant superintendent of student services, told the school board Tuesday. "To see this amount of growth is tremendous."

Board President Athena Arvanitis said significant work was being done to help the students that require the most attention.

In the coming months, the district expects to see the results of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. Rubenstein said he hoped to see the progress reflected in those scores.