Lake County Gazette

At William L. Thompson School, a 7.6-point achievement gap persisted between black and hispanic students in 2017, according to end-of-year assessments reported in the latest Illinois schools report card. The achievement gap shows an 20.3-point decline in scores between black and hispanic students. Of the 624 students enrolled in 2017, 3.5 percent were black or about 22 students.

The achievement gap measures how one group of students academically outperforms another. The Illinois State Board of Education collects data on the persistent gap between groups by race and ethnicity, income level and gender.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, is administered to third- through eighth-graders in Illinois, testing them in reading and math based on Common Core standards. A composite score combines the results of the subject tests.

According to William L. Thompson School composite scores for 2017, 19.0 percent of black students passed the tests. Meanwhile, 26.6 percent of hispanic students passed.

Students who passed either met or exceeded expectations and are considered prepared for the next grade level, college or work. Students who failed either partially met, approached or did not meet expectations.

The achievement gap is smaller for English language arts scores and larger for math scores.

There is a 1.4-point gap between black and hispanic students English language arts scores in 2017 a 5.0 point decline since 2015. In 2017, 30.8 percent of black students passed the reading subject test. Meanwhile, 29.3 percent of hispanic students passed.

There was a 6.8-point gap between black and hispanic student math scores in 2017: 30.8 percent of black students passed while 24.0 percent of hispanic students passed.

William L. Thompson School's black x hispanic achievement gap over 2 years