District 87 Students Improve at All Grade Levels, in All Subjects on Standardized Tests

Preliminary results from the Illinois State Board of Education show that students in Bloomington Public Schools, District 87 made gains at all grade levels and in all subjects in the most recent standardized achievement tests administered.

The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards. The results give parents, teachers, and schools one measure of student learning and school performance. Students in grades 3-8 were tested in reading and math. Students in grades 4 and 7 were also tested in science. Elementary and junior high students in District 87 took the tests in March of 2006. The tests are administered to public school students throughout the state.   

Preliminary results, released by the Illinois State Board of Education in mid-July, reveal that:

• 78% of District 87 students tested meet or exceed state standards across all subjects in which they were tested. This represents an increase of 10% over 4 years ago and the 5th consecutive year that overall scores have improved;
• Reading scores for students in grades 3, 5 and 8 are at their highest levels in 5 years (students in grades 4, 6 and 7 were tested in reading in 2006 for the first time);
• Math scores for students in grades 3, 5 and 8 are at their highest levels in 5 years (students in grades 4, 6 and 7 were tested in math in 2006 for the first time);
• In grade 8, the district saw a double-digit increase (20%) in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the state standard in math. Eighty-one percent of 8th grade students meet or exceed state standards in math, topping out a 5-year upward trend and up from 47% of 8th graders meeting or exceeding state standards just 4 years ago.

“More important than the most recent test results is the fact that there is a continuing upward trend in our students’ math and reading scores. More and more of our students are performing at a higher academic level,” said Dr. Robert S. Nielsen, District 87 Schools Superintendent. “Our teachers, principals and other staff members have worked very hard to improve our students’ skills in reading and math. We are extremely proud of the efforts of all of our staff members and students,” said. Nielsen.

He attributes the gains and the upward trend to a number of factors, including increased professional development for teachers and staff members; the District’s alignment over the past few years of its curriculum with state standards; the assessment of first and second grade students for proficiency in math and reading and the implementation of summer school and after school programs to improve students’ academic performance; the early childhood education program at Sarah E. Raymond School; new math textbooks and teaching materials at BJHS for the 2005-2006 school year and full-day kindergarten at four District 87 elementary schools. The two remaining elementary schools will offer full-day kindergarten beginning this fall. In addition, the District 87 Board of Education has approved new math and science class offerings at BJHS beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. More advanced math and science curriculum will be available to students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. “We will use all of these resources and we will identify new ways to improve the academic performance of all students, including those who have yet to achieve the goal of meeting state standards,” said Nielsen.

The Illinois State Board of Education is expected to release more detailed information about students’ test scores this fall.