Test Expectations: How many students met or exceeded ELA IAR expectations in Taft Grade School in 2023-24 school year?

Taft Grade School reported that 25.9% of its students passed the ELA portion of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 158 students who took part in the IAR 25.9% met the testing standard while 0% exceeded expectations and scored highest on the test.

The total percentage of Taft Grade School students who met or exceeded their ELA expectations was unchanged from the previous school year.

Taft Grade School is located within Taft School District 90, which roughly covers one school and has a main office in Lockport.

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) measures how well students in grades 3-8 are progressing toward state standards in English language arts and mathematics.

Recent IAR data shows that while Illinois students improved slightly in the test, math performance remains below pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, 28.4% of students met math benchmarks, compared to 31.8% in 2019. However, data also indicates a significant achievement gap based on race and ethnicity. 

The disparities were even more pronounced in math. White students achieved a proficiency rate of 38.7%, while Black students achieved 9.1% and Hispanic students 15.6%. Asian students achieved the highest proficiency rates in both subjects, hitting 68.2% in ELA and 61.4% in math.