Will County Gazette

At Mokena Junior High School, a 19.2-point achievement gap persisted between black and hispanic students in 2018, according to end-of-year assessments reported in the latest Illinois schools report card.

The achievement gap shows an 7.3-point improvement in scores between black and hispanic students. Of the 509 students enrolled in 2018, 2.4 percent were black – or 12 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 Mokena Junior High School composite scores for 2018, 45.5 percent of black students passed the tests. Meanwhile, 26.2 percent of hispanic students passed.

Students who passed either met or exceeded expectations 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 15.5-point gap between black and hispanic students' English language arts scores in 2018 – a 9.6 point improvement since 2017. In 2018, 45.5 percent of black students passed the reading subject test. Meanwhile, 30 percent of hispanic students passed.

There was a 23-point gap between black and hispanic students' math scores in 2018: 45.5 percent of black students passed while 22.5 percent of hispanic students passed.

Mokena Junior High School's black vs. hispanic achievement gap over 4 years

The achievement gap at Will County schools