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Lake County Gazette

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Analysis: 89% of black Lake County third graders failed state English exam in 2021

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In Lake County, 89 percent of black third grade students failed the 2021 state English exam.

This means 89 percent of black third graders are not proficient in English, which is considered a core skill for later success in life. These students struggle with understanding what they’ve read, recounting stories, and learning from illustrations like pictures of maps, according to the standards set by the state.

Numerous counties saw all black third grade students fail to reach an acceptable proficiency level in English. Counties include: Alexander, Marion, McDonough, Pulaski, Jefferson, Henry, and Randolph County.

Illinois report card data showed there were dramatic declines in academic achievement since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

However, a Wirepoints investigation found the Illinois school system prioritizes social promotion of black students over their literacy.

“'Social promotion' – pushing kids into the next grade regardless of ability – leaves unsuspecting Illinois parents believing their kids are being educated simply because they're advancing,” wrote report authors Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner. “Social promotion in Illinois continues into high school. That’s when district officials tell parents what they want to hear – that their children have what they need to graduate.”

Wirepoints also cited “racial equity” programs that blame low black student scores on racism, calling schools “more obsessed with vague outcomes like equity and diversity than merit and competence.”

District information was gathered from the Illinois Report Card.

English Scores of Lake County Black Third Grade Students
District# of Black Third Grade Students Who Took English Exam% of Black Third Grade Students Who Failed English Exam
Gurnee School District 5637100
Hawthorn Community Consolidated School District 7310100
Zion Elementary School District 63494.1
Learn 9 in Waukegan1392.4
North Chicago School District 1876091.7
Waukegan Community Unit School District 607390.4
Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 31788.2
Grayslake Consolidated Community School District 461070
Woodland Community Consolidated School District 503868.4

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