Illinois Students' Performance Under New Standards
According to newly released data from the Illinois State Board of Education, half of Illinois public school students can read at grade level, while 2-in-5 can do math proficiently in 2025.
The state's decision to lower proficiency standards has artificially inflated the number of students meeting standards, making it difficult to accurately assess student performance. As a result,
many students are reported as “proficient” but are struggling.
- Just over half of students can read at grade level.
- 39% of students are proficient in math.
- Enrollment continues to decline.
- Absenteeism remains high.
The change in standards also prevents parents from comparing proficiency rates in their schools or districts to previous school years.
Author's summary: Illinois students' performance is a concern.