Editor's note: This story was originally published in the Belleville News-Democrat.
The Illinois State Board of Education released the latest Illinois Report Card data Monday, including information about elementary, middle and high schools across the southwest region.
There are five “summative designations” an Illinois school can receive, including intensive support, comprehensive support, targeted support, commendable and exemplary. Exemplary schools perform among the top 10% statewide, while institutions receiving a “comprehensive support” designation performed in the bottom 5% of Title I-eligible schools across Illinois.
The ISBE considers factors such as English, math and science proficiency, proficiency progress, chronic absenteeism, graduation rate and more in the evaluation.
The state organization said in an Oct. 30 press release proficiency rates and chronic absenteeism rates are still lagging behind what they were pre-pandemic, but other measures, such as teacher retention and growth in the number of students participating in advanced coursework, saw improvement.
Black students saw the largest gains in some areas, including improvement in English language arts proficiency, the ISBE reported. The class of 2023 had the highest graduation rate in 13 years at 87.6%, and Black and Hispanic students saw particularly high graduation rate increases statewide.
Here’s how nine metro-east high schools performed in the 2022 to 2023 Illinois Report Card.
Belleville
Belleville East High School received a commendable designation in the latest Illinois Report Card. The school has a 31% chronic absenteeism rate, a 90% graduation rate, 30% English and language arts proficiency and 22% math proficiency rate.
The school has 2,422 students, according to the report.
Belleville West High School also received a commendable designation, with a 38% chronic absenteeism rate, a 93% graduation rate, 23% English proficiency and 18% math proficiency rate. More than 2,030 students attend Belleville West.
“Belleville East and Belleville West High Schools offer tremendous academic, vocational, athletic, and extra-curricular opportunities for all of our students. We are proud that both schools are designated as Commendable under the Illinois school accountability system and appreciate the support of the District #201 community to make Belleville East and Belleville West great places to learn and grow,” Superintendent Brian Mentzer wrote in an email to the News-Democrat.
O'Fallon Township
O’Fallon Township High School received an exemplary designation in the Illinois Report Card, with a 24% chronic absenteeism rate, 94% graduation rate, 44% English proficiency and 36% math proficiency rate.
The school has 2,479 students, according to the Illinois Report Card.
The News-Democrat has reached out to O’Fallon Township High School officials for comment.
East St. Louis
East St. Louis Senior High School received a comprehensive designation in this year’s Illinois Report Card, with an 89% chronic absenteeism rate, a 68% graduation rate, a 2% English proficiency rate and a 0% math proficiency rate.
The school has 1,140 students, according to the latest state report card.
The News-Democrat has reached out to East St. Louis Senior High School officials about the designation.
Mascoutah
Mascoutah High School received an exemplary designation in the Illinois Report Card, with a 18% chronic absenteeism rate, a 95% graduation rate, 49% English proficiency rate and a 39% math proficiency rate.
The high school has 1,212 students, according to the Illinois Report Card. The five schools within Mascoutah District 19 have nearly 4,300 total students, officials said.
“We are proud that all five schools within Mascoutah 19 have received Commendable/Exemplary designations as this is a culmination of the efforts of so many. Our nearly 4,300 students have continued to elevate their performance under the guidance of our dedicated staff and through the leadership of our administration and Board of Education. I also want to recognize our families and the community as a whole for their tremendous support — it really is a special school community filled with Purple Pride,” David Deets, superintendent of Mascoutah 19, wrote in an emailed statement to the News-Democrat.
“However, it’s also important to remember that these summative designations only tell a part of a story. Every district has areas of strength that warrant celebration, and I really believe our region as a whole is blessed with so many great school districts. And while Mascoutah 19 is excited for our current designations and for all that we offer our students, we are not done growing. We will continue to do all we can to positively impact every student, every day.”
Collinsville
Collinsville High School received a commendable designation, with a 36% chronic absenteeism rate, 88% graduation rate, 23% English proficiency rate and a 15% math proficiency rate. The school has 1,944 students, according to the Illinois Report Card.
The News-Democrat has reached out to Collinsville High School officials for comment.
Granite City
Granite City High School received a targeted designation in this year’s Illinois Report Card, with Black students and low income students as the targeted demographics.
The school has a 46% chronic absenteeism rate, a 72% graduation rate, 15% English proficiency rate and a 10% math proficiency rate.
The Granite City school has 1,729 students, according to the Illinois Report Card.
The News-Democrat has reached out to Granite City High School officials for comment on the targeted designation.
Edwardsville
Edwardsville High School received a commendable designation in the Illinois Report Card, with a 29% chronic absenteeism rate, a 92% graduation rate, 46% English proficiency rate and a 38% math proficiency rate.
The school has 2,310 students, according to the Illinois Report Card.
The News-Democrat has reached out to Edwardsville High School officials for comment.
Freeburg
Freeburg Community High School received an exemplary designation in this year’s Illinois Report card, with a 17% chronic absenteeism rate, a 95% graduation rate, 39% English proficiency rate and a 36% math proficiency rate.
The school has 651 students, according to the latest state report card.
Meredith Howard is a reporter with the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
