Good, Bad Of Latest Elmhurst D205 Test Results

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 saw its best results for elementary and middle school students since a particular standardized test started six years ago.

That fact was touted in a news release from the district Wednesday morning.

At the same time, York High School students saw their lowest SAT scores since the state started using the test in 2017.

The district was silent on that part of the story.

On Wednesday morning, the state released test scores for schools across the state.

On the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, 68 percent of Elmhurst's third through eighth graders met or exceeded state standards on the English language arts part of the test last school year. That's well above the state's 42 percent.

It was an increase of 7 percentage points from the previous year. The district hit a low of 42 percent in 2021, while the 2019 pre-pandemic rate was 51 percent.

As for the math portion of the test, 58 percent of students met the benchmark, well above the statewide average. The district dipped to a low of 42 percent in 2021, lower than the 2019 rate of 52 percent.

"These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and the strong partnership with our families and community," Superintendent Keisha Campbell said in the news release.

Meanwhile, 51 percent of York High School juniors met standards on the English language arts part of the SAT, dropping from 55 percent a year earlier. In 2019, 65 percent of students made the mark.

As for the math portion, 49 percent of York's juniors achieved the benchmark last school year, down from 53 percent the previous year. In 2019, 63 percent met standards.

The school was well above statewide averages.

This school year, the state is mandating that schools give juniors the ACT, rather than the SAT.

In the news release, Campbell indirectly referred to York's situation.

"While SAT scores for Math and evidence-based reading and writing (EBRW) met state targets, the district has identified continued opportunities for growth in preparation for the ACT, which will be implemented this year at York High School," she said.

District 205 is among the wealthiest in the state. Last school year, 17 percent of local students were reported as coming from low-income families. Statewide, nearly half of students fall into that category.

Over the years, the district has shown a tendency to promote upward test results, but ignore declining ones.

In 2022, the district's news release noted advances among elementary and middle school students, but made no mention of the high school's dropping scores. In a later school board presentation, an official breezed past a chart showing the high school's numbers.

A year ago, the district's news release noted that SAT scores ticked up at York, following three years of declines.

While District 205 ignored the bad news Wednesday morning, Hinsdale High School District 86's superintendent recognized dropping SAT scores in a statement to the public.