Post by wvhsparent on Aug 19, 2006 7:24:08 GMT -6
Dist. 204 ACT scores jump
Neuqua, Waubonsie results rose at twice the national average, continuing trend
By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, August 19, 2006
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 students increased the district’s average ACT score by four-tenths of a point, which is more than the state and national averages rose, school officials said Friday.
Results for Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools’ Class of 2006 showed progress in all four testing areas: math, English, reading and science, according to Patrick Nolten, director of research, assessment and evaluation.
“We saw strong growth throughout the district,” Nolten said. “In the context of national data, both (schools) are above average and an improvement over last year’s class.”
Nationally, scores increased by two-tenths of a point to 21.1, while the state average increased two-tenths of a point to 20.5.
In Illinois, all 11th-grade students are required to take the test, which is scored on a 36-point scale.
Waubonsie Valley Principal Jim Schmid attributes the Aurora school’s increase from 22.1 to 22.6 points to a concerted effort in increased reading initiatives and prep for standardized testing.
“The state would see that (gain) as significant,” Schmid said. “It’s not just your more academically gifted students taking it (the ACT) — it’s everybody taking it.”
The average composite Neuqua Valley score was 23.8 — up four-tenths of a point from last year.
“It’s positive and encouraging that we saw both high schools improving relative to state growth,” Nolten said.
Although Schmid is proud of Waubonsie’s increase, the school plans to continue its efforts through a new reading program targeting freshman. The school has increased steadily from the 21.3 average it earned five years ago.
“There’s some consistency here, and that’s what we’re most proud of,” Schmid said.
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dailyherald.com
Neuqua, Waubonsie results rose at twice the national average, continuing trend
By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, August 19, 2006
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 students increased the district’s average ACT score by four-tenths of a point, which is more than the state and national averages rose, school officials said Friday.
Results for Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools’ Class of 2006 showed progress in all four testing areas: math, English, reading and science, according to Patrick Nolten, director of research, assessment and evaluation.
“We saw strong growth throughout the district,” Nolten said. “In the context of national data, both (schools) are above average and an improvement over last year’s class.”
Nationally, scores increased by two-tenths of a point to 21.1, while the state average increased two-tenths of a point to 20.5.
In Illinois, all 11th-grade students are required to take the test, which is scored on a 36-point scale.
Waubonsie Valley Principal Jim Schmid attributes the Aurora school’s increase from 22.1 to 22.6 points to a concerted effort in increased reading initiatives and prep for standardized testing.
“The state would see that (gain) as significant,” Schmid said. “It’s not just your more academically gifted students taking it (the ACT) — it’s everybody taking it.”
The average composite Neuqua Valley score was 23.8 — up four-tenths of a point from last year.
“It’s positive and encouraging that we saw both high schools improving relative to state growth,” Nolten said.
Although Schmid is proud of Waubonsie’s increase, the school plans to continue its efforts through a new reading program targeting freshman. The school has increased steadily from the 21.3 average it earned five years ago.
“There’s some consistency here, and that’s what we’re most proud of,” Schmid said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dailyherald.com