York High Results Frustrate District Official

ELMHURST, IL – It's been the story of the 2020s for Elmhurst School District 205 – soaring test results at elementary and middle schools, but not so much at York High.

Over the years, the district has sometimes overlooked the bad news at York, focusing on the lower grades instead.

To be sure, York performs well when compared to state and national averages. After all, Elmhurst School District 205's families are relatively wealthy, so better-than-average outcomes are unsurprising.

Last fall, Patch found that York did relatively well the previous school year with standardized test scores when compared to demographically similar high schools.

But York hasn't distinguished itself in the same manner as local elementary and middle schools.

Last year, the district revealed that the younger students' test scores exceeded those in 2019 – a rarity nationwide.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, administrators presented members with a report on academic outcomes.

Board members lauded the district's improvement programs, including instructional coaches, that they say have increased results at the elementary and middle school levels.

Member Courtenae Trautmann agreed, but wanted action at the high school. She said she hoped York teachers and department chairs had seen the success of implementing changes in the younger grades.

"We can accomplish this, but they have to go along with the ride," she said. "They have to be a part of the solution."

Trautmann continued, "I might sound a little frustrated, but I hope they see there is data here that supports that everything that has been done in the last four years. We're succeeding at the elementary school. We're succeeding at the middle school. And I just want us to succeed at York."

She said she wanted to celebrate academic successes in the schools.

"If we're not having successes, I think that helps us identify where we need to focus," she said.

Board President Athena Arvanitis said the board would bring more resources to areas that require more focus.