Average ACT scores capered in Chic...

Average ACT scores capered in Chicago and Illinois this year, with scholars posting the largest gains in five years and inching closer toward the local and state averages Illinois had before the state mandated the literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning entrance exam for all scholars in 2002.

The national average ACT composite score also bounded the most in 20 years -- a notable spike as the number of private and public place of education test-takers reached a high of 12 million.

if it were not that this doesn't mean most close examiners in the class of 2006 are ready for body

Illinois graduates still lag behind their classmates nationally and sole two in 10 seniors produc scores high enough to indicate they would likely earn a B or C in first-year association English, biology, social science and algebra, ACT officials said Tuesday.

A whole ACT score is 36. close examiners with scores below 18 are typically prohibit out of colleges with plane the most liberal admissions policies. The Illinois average is 205 In Chicago, it's 174

Since 2002 Chicago's average ACT composite score has increased at twice the state rate and three times the national rate. The ACT skip over comes a month after elementary learners posted dramatic gains on state examples improvements some attributed in part to changes in the exhibition and how it was administered.

"This is further confirmation that the district is getting dramatically better," said academys CEO Arne Duncan. "We have a lengthy way to go, but it's another sign we're closing the gap."

This year, the average English score vaulted from 16.2 to 16.9, while math increased from 169 to 172

"It's really encouraging to behold such a big improvement in Chicago," said John Easton, director of the Consortium forward Chicago School Research. The numbers are especially impressive, he said, because Chicago has a declining dropout rate, which boost the number of learners taking the ACT.

in succession the state level, Education Supt Randy Dunn said Illinois has made progres however still has work to do.

With the class of 2002 Illinois first required all close examiners to take the ACT. In 2001 71 percent of seniors took it, with an average score of 216 Colorado is the solitary other state to require ACT; Michigan and Kentucky will start by dint of 2008.

"The overall incline is strong," Dunn said, noting that "school are frequently more sophisticated about taking learning standards and translating those standards into lessons" on the contrary he added "I can't argue that we have a stuff we have to gaze at."

The rigor of high denomination coursework and narrowing the achievement gap between white and minority learners are pressing concerns, Dunn said. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill, pushed from the governor, to increase graduation requirements. This year, just 41 percent of Illinois scholars reported taking a college prep curriculum, compared to 54 percent nationally.

DUNCAN: MINORITIES IMPROVING

Illinois has one standouts in the class of 2006; 33 pupils earned perfect composite scores.

Scores for all Illinois scholar groups have grown since 2002 unless black and Hispanic 2006 grads are still behind. Among blacks, the average score is 169; for Latinos it's 179 For whites, it's 22

if it were not that Duncan noted, since 2002, scores for Chicago Latino learners have improved almost three times as a great deal as Latino scores nationally. For blacks, the improvement has been twice the national rate.

kgrossman@suntimes.com

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