LTHS Test Scores Drop In Wake Of Pandemic

LA GRANGE, IL — Lyons Township High School saw a drop in its mean SAT score, an official said last week.

In the spring, the class of 2022 had a mean score of 1093 on the SAT, down 38 points from the class of 2020 but still higher than the state as a whole, Katherine Smith, the school's coordinator of assessment, told the school board.

According to the statistics, 53 percent of the class of 2020 met both college readiness benchmarks and evidence-based math and reading and writing, down 13 percentage points from the class of 2020. The state percentage also declined, but not as steeply, Smith said.

She said the lower numbers were likely the result of 500 fewer instructional minutes, remote learning and the lack of exposure to the SAT because of the cancellation of the PSAT. All these factors were the result of the pandemic.

"Because educational and environmental conditions were so drastically different for the class of 2020, it is unwise to compare performance to previous classes," Smith said. "But what we can do is compare the class of 2022 to themselves."

The figures show that African American students' mean score on the SAT was 229 points lower than the mean for all students. Hispanics were 121 points lower and white were 41 points higher than the overall mean. Those who get free or reduced price lunches averaged 198 points lower than other students, according to the school.

"The data shows there is an achievement gap that has continued for the class of 2022," Smith said.

Last spring, students passed 72 percent of the more than 2,200 Advanced Placement tests taken. That was the lowest passing rate in the school's history, likely because of last year's schedule and instructional format, Smith said.

Board President Kari Dillon said the numbers served as a "reality check" about necessary improvements.

Board member Michael Thomas said he was particularly concerned with the "huge" gap for students of color.

"That's an area that should be looked at," he said. "While we have a college prep and college-going culture, that doesn't necessarily translate over to students of color."