Rockford: Home to the highest number of low-performing schools outside of Chicago

Most people assume that Chicago is home to Illinois’ lowest-performing schools – those schools that scored in the bottom 10 percent on the Illinois Standard Achievement Test, or ISAT. But, in actuality, Chicago is home to only 45 percent of the state’s lowest-performing elementary schools and high schools. More than half of Illinois’ lowest-performing schools...

Most people assume that Chicago is home to Illinois’ lowest-performing schools – those schools that scored in the bottom 10 percent on the Illinois Standard Achievement Test, or ISAT.

But, in actuality, Chicago is home to only 45 percent of the state’s lowest-performing elementary schools and high schools.

More than half of Illinois’ lowest-performing schools lie outside of the city’s borders.

Unfortunately, Rockford – the state’s third-largest city – is home to the highest number of low-performing schools outside of Chicago, with 15 low-performing elementary schools within its borders.

At these schools, more than 73 percent of students failed to meet standards on the ISAT in math, with 51 percent one grade level behind, and 22 percent two or more grade levels behind.

To put it in more plain terms, eighth-grade students who are one grade level behind in math have difficulty solving one-step equations that involve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Those who are two or more grade levels behind cannot solve fraction problems even when they have common denominators.

The district’s third-grade students also struggle in reading. More than 73 percent are at least one grade level behind, meaning they are unable to distinguish between the main idea and supporting details of a story.

Studies have shown that third grade is the most important year in school. In fact, a recent report found that third grade students with the low reading scores are four times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers.

The poor quality of Rockford’s low-performing schools carries real-life implications. Students who lack basic math and reading skills are more likely to drop out of high school, are less likely to graduate from college, are incarcerated at higher rates, are more likely to be unemployed, are more likely to enroll in public assistance programs and will make significantly less money than their peers who received quality educations.

It’s time for Illinois legislators to give Rockford families the option to attend high-quality schools, regardless of whether they are public, charter or private. Not doing so leaves Rockford children trapped in a system that has failed them for decades.