District 308 Assessment and Accountability Report

District 308 is accountable to the community for providing its students with educational excellence within a caring community. It is not only the district’s motto, it is our mission.

Annually, members of the district’s department of teaching and learning update the Board of Education on the academic growth of the district’s students. Multiple types of assessments are used to measure students’ academic success and help evaluate the current curriculum and effectiveness of instruction. Advances in technology have played a big role in this effort, so that student achievement is not solely based on a single test. 

This year there are many things to be proud of. There are also some areas that are being targeted for improvement.

State Tests

The Illinois State Board of Education released the 2009 report cards for districts and schools throughout the state. By law, this information needs to be presented to the local Board of Education by October 30, 2009.

The Illinois State Achievement Test (ISAT) is given to students in third through eighth grade in the spring and results are received in the fall.

More than 86 percent of District 308 students are meeting/exceeding state standards on the ISAT compared to 85 percent last year. The continual growth in this area is leading the district towards its goal of 97 percent of students meeting/exceeding state standards by 2012.

All elementary schools, in both reading and math (grades 3-5) scored above the state average. In addition, junior high school reading and math scores were above the state average, with the exception of Plank Junior High School which scored slightly below the state in eighth-grade math but showed an impressive ten percent increase over last year’s score.

The Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) is given to high school juniors. Scores were above the state average in the two subjects tested—reading and math.

These increases are being attributed to the district’s rigorous curriculum. Over the past few years an emphasis has been placed on aligning the district’s educational programs to the state standards and ensuring that students across the district are receiving the same quality education.

National Tests

More than 86 percent of District 308 students performed at or above proficiency in both subjects tested (reading and math) on the Northwest Evaluation Assessment Measure of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) tests. These national tests target second through eighth grade students. The main benefit of this test is that unlike the ISAT, information is available the day after the test is taken. This allows instruction to be immediately adjusted to target areas of need. NWEA MAP tests are taken annually in the fall and spring.

The American College Testing (ACT) program exam is taken by all high school juniors in the district. In addition, seniors may repeat the test to increase their score. Test results assist students in determining areas of study and school selection for college. It is also an admissions requirement that many colleges use in accepting college applicants. In Illinois, even students who are not planning to attend college are required to take the ACT.

The Oswego High School Class of 2009 scored higher than the state in all subject areas tested (math, reading, English, and science). At the national level, Oswego High’s Class of 2009 scored equal to or just below the national average in all subjects. Oswego East High School’s Class of 2009 saw scores that were only 1 point below the nation and .4 below the state, posting increases in all subject areas.

The Advanced Placement College Board (AP) national testing exam is taken by students who are attempting to obtain a test score that would enable them to advance into a higher level class their freshman year or test out of a college course. The results of the spring 2009 exams showed a greater number of District 308 students who participated in the AP testing process, as well as an increase in the number of students achieving a score allowing for advanced placement.

Click here to view the Assessment and Accountability presentation.