District 90 PARCC Results Indicate High Levels of Proficiency and Areas for Improvement

Initial Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Careers and College (PARCC) results indicate that District 90 continues to provide a high quality educational experience for students. A majority of students achieved levels of proficiency that average more than double those of the state average, with District averages indicating almost 70 percent (69.2%) of students meeting or exceeding proficiency. Average proficiency scores at the District’s two elementary schools were virtually identical with Lincoln at 74.6 percent and Willard at 74.4 percent. “Nevertheless, the results also present opportunities for improvement, particularly in math and with certain sub-groups of students,” said Superintendent Ed Condon. “District 90 faculty and staff are delving deeply into these results to ascertain specific areas where we should concentrate our efforts,” he said. The results reflect a new baseline that teachers and families can use to measure progress toward college and career readiness.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has approved the release of District 90’s PARCC assessment results for the District, schools, and students. District 90 is sending individual student results home to families through the mail. PARCC assessment results for each school and the District are available on our website through the District Information tab under State Report Cards.

While District 90 student assessment results significantly exceeded state averages, it is to be expected that any new assessment tool, such as PARCC, will show fewer students demonstrating proficiency than on an established assessment, such as the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). The PARCC assessment reflects significantly higher learning expectations for students and measures skills that are more complex, such as critical thinking, problem solving, concept mastery, and writing competencies.

“As students and faculty become more familiar with the more rigorous standards and assessment, we expect that the results for District 90 students will continue to reflect high levels of student learning and achievement,” said Dr. Condon.

One of the ongoing areas for growth highlighted by the PARCC results was the gap in proficiency levels between sub-groups of students, such as special needs students, English Learners, and minority students. The District has been aware of these performance gaps and is actively taking steps to narrow them. The gap in proficiency levels among students, along with other issues, was the impetus for the formation of the Inclusiveness Advisory Board and the Board of Education’s Equity Committee. Both entities are committed to ensuring that District 90 offers an inclusive and equitable environment to every student, family, and staff member. “The IAB is working on the policies, practices, and procedures that affect the District’s climate of inclusion,” said Dr. Condon. “While the Equity Committee pursues evidence-based practices that decrease or eliminate the performance gap between groups of students,” he explained.

ISBE has provided additional resources to help families interpret and understand their student’s PARCC results. Click on the links below for additional information.

· Illinois State Report Card

· ISBE PARCC score toolkit

· Sample individual score reports

· PARCC score results page

· Understand the Score

While the PARCC assessment does provide useful information to families and District 90, it is important to keep mind that the PARCC assessment represents only one tool to help gauge student, school, and District progress.