Most Madison County schools get passing grades

By Bob Pieper for Chronicle Media

Fifty-six of Madison County’s 74 public schools got passing grades on 2018 Illinois Report Cards, released Oct. 30 by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) — with two rated exemplary. However, 14 are considered underperforming, according to state board reports, with another four found to be among the lowest performing in the state.

The 2018 ISBE report cards are part of a new support and accountability system for all public schools in the state, according to an ISBE statement.

As part of the new system, each school’s report card includes a designation — exemplary, commendable, underperforming, or low-performing – indicating how well the school is meeting the needs of all students.

An exemplary designation identifies one of the highest-performing 10 percent of schools. The lowest-performing designation identifies the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools.

All other schools receive the commendable designation.

The designations are based on 10 measures of performance, including “student growth” in elementary and middle schools.

The new, revised Illinois Report Cards also show each district’s Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) tier and related financial information.

Under a 2017 overhaul of the state’s school funding formula, the ISBE now annually determines for each school  how much funding is needed to adequately operate the school and then compares that amount to the actual funding available to the school.

Schools found to have the lowest levels of local revenue generating capacity, compared their needs, qualify for additional state funding, according to the ISBE.

Graduation rates are not compiled for districts with only primary or middle schools. The ISBE assigns designations only to schools meeting minimum enrollment and grade-range requirements; therefore, designations may not be indicated for every school in a district.

ALTON CUSD 11 (10) – 79 percent graduation rate; 11 percent mobility rate; 21 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 81 percent teacher retention rate. The district has six commendable schools and one underperforming school. With $48 million in local financial resources available, the district has 61 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $78 million financial adequacy target.

BETHALTO CUSD 8 (5) – 94 percent graduation rate; 5 percent student mobility rate; 19 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 88 percent teacher retention rate.  All five district schools are rated commendable.   With $17 million in local financial resources available, the district has 59 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $29 million financial adequacy target.

COLLINSVILLE CUSD 10 (11) – 89 percent graduation rate; 9 percent mobility rate; 15 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 91 percent teacher retention rate.  The district has one exemplary, nine commendable, and one underperforming school. With $49 million in local financial resources available, the district has 61 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $79 million financial adequacy target.

EAST ALTON SD 13 (3) – 18 percent student mobility rate; 30 percent chronic absenteeism rate; and 89 percent teacher retention rate. Two district schools are rated underperforming. With $5.2 million in local financial resources, the district has 57 percent of funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $9.1 million financial adequacy target.

EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER CHSD 14 (1) – 82 percent graduation rate; 16 percent student mobility rate; 29 percent chronic absenteeism rate; and 90 percent teacher retention rate. The district school is rated commendable. With $3.8 million in local financial resources, the district has 52 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $7.3 million.

EDWARDSVILLE CUSD 7 (13) – 92 percent graduation rate; 6 percent student mobility rate; 15 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 88 percent teacher retention rate. All 13 of the district’s schools are rated commendable. With $66 million in financial resources, the district has 82 percent of the financial funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $81 million financial adequacy target.

GRANITE CITY CUSD 9 (8) – 72 percent graduation rate; 12 percent student mobility rate; 31 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 86 percent teacher retention rate. The district has three commendable, two underperforming, and two school rated among the lowest 10 percent in the state. With $44 million in local financial resources, the district has 57 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $78 million financial adequacy target.

HIGHLAND CUSD 5 (6) – 92 percent graduation rate; 5 percent student mobility rate; 4 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 92 percent teacher retention rate. The district has one exemplary and five commendable schools. With $23 million in local financial resources, the district has 78 percent of the funding capacity need to meet its state-set $32 financial adequacy target.

MADISON CUSD 12 (3) – 77 percent graduation rate; 15 percent student mobility rate; 20 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 74 percent teacher retention rate. The district has one underperforming school and two among the lowest-performing 10 percent statewide. With $6.1 million in local financial resources, the district has 65 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $9.4 million financial adequacy target.

ROXANA CUSD 1 (4) – 87 percent graduation rate; 9 percent student mobility rate; 21 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 86 percent teacher retention rate. The district has three commendable and one underperforming schools. With $23 million in financial resources, Roxana CUSD 1 has 105 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $22 million financial adequacy target.

TRIAD CUSD 2 (6) – 97 percent graduation rate; 32 percent student mobility rate; 22 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 80 percent teacher retention rate; The district has four exemplary and two commendable schools. With $28 million in financial resources, Triad CUSD 2 has 72 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $39 million financial target.

VENICE CUSD 3 (1) – No student mobility rate listed; 20 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 74 percent teacher retention rate; The district school is rated commendable. With $2 million in financial resources, Venice CUSD 3 has 127 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $1.6 financial adequacy target.

WOOD RIVER-HARTFORD ESD 15 (3) – No graduation rate listed; 10 percent student mobility rate; 4 percent chronic absenteeism rate; 88 percent teacher retention rate. The district has two commendable and one underperforming school. With $5.2 million in financial resources, Wood River-Hartford ESD 15 has 63 percent of the funding capacity needed to meet its state-set $8.2 million financial target.

State report card data for Monroe and St. Clair County school districts will appear in future issues of the Metro East Chronicle. Complete report card data can be accessed at www.illinoisreportcard.com.

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