On the top of page 4 of Huntley School District 158 board member Larry Snow’s letter to constituents, he continues to question of high school student performance.

Using the figures below, my calculations show that Prairie State Achievement Exam reading scores are 8% under the goal set in the Huntley school board’s strategic plan. Math is 9.4% under the district’s goal.

Graduation rates fell markedly for Huntley High School students over the past three years–from 92% in 2005 to 87% in 2007.

There are preliminary indications ACT scores to be reported next summer will show a healthy uptick. Official scores recently reported showed a little improvement, 1/10 of 1 point above the composite state average. (if an average that includes Chicago, Rockford and Elgin, is very meaningful) The ISAT scores in the lower grades improved. Administrators have told us the Illinois ISAT scores are not good predictors for how well students will do on their 11th grade tests. A recent Fordham Institute report has called the rigor of the State’s tests into question.

Here’s the past 5 years’ Prairie State (PSAE) test results in the 11th grade. (2007 is preliminary)

Here’s our high school graduation rates for the past few years.

Do you see anything in the numbers and trends above that needs improvement?

13% of our students are not graduating on time. This is the equivalent of less than 1 student in 8 graduating from high school in four years. (87.5% would be exactly 7 out of 8)

When the final numbers come in, it’s likely the District didn’t meet its 2006-2007 strategic plan goal of 62.5% of students having “meet or exceed” test results for the Prairie State Exam. We had five board members enthusiastically applaud Superintendent Burkey receiving a $10,000 raise. You can be supportive of the District and our Superintendent and make objective assessments on management benchmarks and educational goals. How loudly you OohRah!, does that show how much you support education in our District?