Illinois Valley Times

In a year when 85 percent of Putnam County High School seniors graduated on time, 39 percent of those who attended Illinois community colleges had to enroll in remedial courses because they weren't prepared for college-level classes, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education for the Class of 2016.

Data from the class that graduated in 2016 shows 82 percent of Putnam students enrolled in two- or four-year programs at college or university within 12 months of graduating high school, compared to 75 percent across the state. After 16 months, the rate is 82 percent.

Of the Putnam graduates attending Illinois community colleges, 15 percent took them in reading, while 24 percent took remedial courses in math and 24 percent took remedial courses in communications.

Statewide, 46 percent of students enrolled in community colleges across the state had to take remedial classes.

Remediation for area schools: Class of 2016