Majority Of ETHS Students Fail To Meet Math Standard: Report Card

EVANSTON, IL — State education officials have released the first Illinois school report cards since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school-level assessments follow last month's release of preliminary statewide data, which showed declining enrollment and academic proficiency.

According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, 16.6 percent fewer students met grade-level English standards and 17.8 percent fewer students met math standards in 2021 as compared to 2019, the last time the school report cards were completed.

At Evanston Township High School, the percentage of juniors who met or exceeded English language standards on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, remained level at 53 percent. However, when it came to math, only 48 percent met the standards, down 2 percentage points compared to the last report card.

Carmen Ayala, state education superintendent, praised teachers and administrators across the state for their dedication to Illinois students in a statement announcing the new report cards.

“Assessment data gives local communities more insight into the impact of the pandemic on their students and what they need to recover," Ayala said.

“We are confident that the full return to safe, in-person learning and the significant state and federal investment in our schools will provide the conditions for all our students to thrive in the coming years," she added. "Every school district has had a unique experience during the pandemic, with different strengths and challenges."

Since 2017, the percentage of ETHS students who do not meet standards has risen from 42 to 47 percent in English and 45 to 53 percent in math, according to the data from the state education board.

During that period, district administrators have added 26 teachers, bringing the total on staff to 268. Their average salary has risen from $99,817 to $106,761.

ETHS has 10 students for every certified staff member and 115 students for each administrator. The one-school district has 31 administrators, who have an average salary of $161,551, according to the 2021 ETHS Illinois report card data.

Among neighboring suburban school districts, New Trier High School District 203 has a 209 students per administrator but only 9 per teacher, while Niles Township High School District 219 also has 9 students per certified staffer but one administrator for every 94 students.

For students who started high school at ETHS in 2017, the four-year graduation rate was 93.1 percent, compared to a state average of 86 percent.

According to the state data, ETHS is funded at 122 percent of its adequacy level. The district spends $22,887 per student, compared to a state average of $14,747.

The federal government has allocated more than $7 billion to Illinois schools this year to address the academic and emotional effects of the pandemic on the state's students.

Related: $9.1 Million Of $1.9 Trillion Bill Earmarked For Evanston Schools

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the report card data showed some improvements in college and career preparation coursework but also indicated the "tremendous challenges" presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement last month, the governor said his administration has been working with school administrators to make sure the money is distributed properly to address learning disruptions.

“As we move forward, helping our children process this experience and restoring their learning must sit at the heart of every action," Pritzker said. "Together, with our incredible educators at the forefront, we are revitalizing our classrooms, student by student, for the betterment of all of Illinois."

Read more: Complete 2020-21 Illinois Report Card: Evanston Township High School District 202

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