Illinois Valley Times

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, high school graduation rates remain high across the region, according to a Illinois Valley Times analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 18 schools analyzed in Bureau, LaSalle, Putnam and Grundy counties, Putnam County High School showed the greatest disparity. In a year when 83 percent of seniors graduated on time, just 2 percent of students actually passed annual tests that the state uses to determine who is "ready for the next level."

The end-of-year tests known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, are administered to third- through eighth-graders in Illinois, testing them based on Common Core standards. High schoolers also took the tests through 2016. 

A composite score combines the results of the subject tests. Students whose scores either meet or exceed expectations are considered "ready for the next level."

Schools' graduation fraud index shows the difference between the composite passing rate and the graduation rate.

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Illinois Valley schools graduation fraud index

Illinois Valley high school	School district	City	Annual exam pass rate (%)	Graduation rate (%)	Graduation fraud index
Putnam County High School	Putnam County Cusd 535	Granville	2.2	83.1	-80.9
Serena High School	Serena Cusd 2	Serena	11.4	88.7	-77.3
La Moille High School	La Moille Cusd 303	La Moille	22.2	95.5	-73.3
Seneca High School	Seneca Twp Hsd 160	Seneca	21.2	93.4	-72.2
Morris Community High School	Morris Chsd 101	Morris	24.4	92.2	-67.8
Minooka Community High School	Minooka Chsd 111	Minooka	24.6	91.5	-66.9
La Salle-Peru Township High School	La Salle-Peru Twp Hsd 120	La Salle	19	85.3	-66.3
DePue High School	Depue Usd 103	Depue	15.1	77.8	-62.7
Bureau Valley High School	Bureau Valley Cusd 340	Manlius	30.8	88.1	-57.3
Coal City High School	Coal City Cusd 1	Coal City	34	88.7	-54.7
Mendota Township High School	Mendota Twp Hsd 280	Mendota	32.5	87.1	-54.6
Gardner-South Wilmington Township H S	Gardner S Wilmington Twp Hsd 73	Gardner	31.3	83.3	-52
Ottawa Township High School	Ottawa Twp Hsd 140	Ottawa	33.7	83.6	-49.9
Hall High School	Hall Hsd 502	Spring Valley	27.1	74.1	-47
Princeton High School	Princeton Hsd 500	Princeton	38.1	82.4	-44.3
Leland High School	Leland Cusd 1	Leland	52.9	96	-43.1
Earlville Jr/Sr High School	Earlville Cusd 9	Earlville	29.7	72.5	-42.8
Streator Township High School	Streator Twp Hsd 40	Streator	34.4	75.3	-40.9

Source: Illinois State Board of Education