That's according to a North Cook News analysis of 2022 test score data compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
ISBE reports that last year, 71.3 percent of Cook County's 49,319 public high school students failed the English language arts portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and have "minimal (or) incomplete… understanding of the knowledge and skills relative to Illinois Learning Standards."
Students can achieve four proficiencies in their subjects (partially met, approaching, meets, and exceeds standards). This report concludes students who partially met or approached the standards have failed in the subject.
Several schools in Cook county shared the highest failure rate, including Bowen High School (100 percent), Chicago Excel Academy High School (100 percent) and CICS - Ralph Ellison Campus (100 percent). Jones College Prep High School (8.8 percent) and Payton College Preparatory High School (3.7 percent) had the lowest.
Of 194 Cook County high schools, only 16 -- Lyons Township High School, Evanston Township High School, Prospect High School, Maine South High School, Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy High School, Glenbrook South High School, Oak Park and River Forest High School, William Fremd High School, John Hersey High School, New Trier Township High School Winnetka, Glenbrook North High School, Lane Technical High School, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Northside College Preparatory High School, Jones College Prep High School, Payton College Preparatory High School had passing rates of more than 50 percent.
County-wide, English test failure rates rose from 65.4 percent in 2019 to 71.3 percent in 2022.
The failure rate increased at 120 Cook County high schools in 2022, with the most significant increase happening at Noble Street Charter Schools - Pritzker College Prep (90.4 percent).
Failure rates rose the most at Cook County (100 percent), Marion County (100 percent), Peoria County (100 percent), Scott County (100 percent), Tazewell County (100 percent).
Perspectives High School of Technology & Leadership Academy, Air Force Academy High School, CICS - Northtown Campus, and Horizon Science Academy McKinley were the Cook County high schools to see English scores improve between 2019 and 2022.
Statewide, 69.1 percent of Illinois students failed the 2022 state English exam, up from 64 percent in 2019.
The SAT test is administered to Illinois high school sophomores "to fulfill the requirement that students take an assessment for college and career readiness in order to receive a regular high school diploma."
| High School | # of Students | Failing % in 2019 | Failing % in 2021 | Failing % in 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen High School | 61 | 76.9% | 95.7% | 100% |
| Chicago Excel Academy High School | 38 | 85.8% | 97% | 100% |
| CICS - Ralph Ellison Campus | 30 | 98.7% | 95.6% | 100% |
| Clark Academy Preparatory Magnet High School | 128 | 97.4% | 99% | 100% |
| Collins Academy High School | 56 | 98% | 96.7% | 100% |
| Douglass Academy High School | 14 | 98.3% | 100% | 100% |
| Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School | 98 | 96% | 100% | 100% |
| North Lawndale College Prep - Collins | 109 | 93.4% | 97.9% | 100% |
| Perspectives Charter - IIT Math & Science Academy | 64 | 92.5% | 99% | 100% |
| Richards Career Academy | 66 | 96% | 98.5% | 100% |
| Spry Community Links High School | 22 | 93.8% | 100% | 100% |
| Tilden Career Communty Academy High School | 44 | 90.4% | 100% | 100% |
| Urban Prep Charter Academy Bronzeville High School | 59 | 91.8% | 94.3% | 100% |
| Urban Prep Charter Academy Englewood High School | 46 | 97.3% | 93% | 100% |
| YCCS - Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School | 24 | 77.4% | 100% | 100% |
| YCCS - Aspira Pantoja Alternative High School | 67 | 79.8% | 95.8% | 100% |
| YCCS - Austin Career Education Center High School | 17 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| YCCS - Progressive Leadership Academy | 39 | 69.1% | 92.8% | 100% |
| YCCS - West Town Academy Alternative High School | 27 | 97.9% | 96.9% | 100% |
| Phillips Academy High School | 114 | 95.6% | 98.8% | 99.2% |
| Kelvyn Park High School | 101 | 86.5% | 100% | 99% |
| Gage Park High School | 97 | 84.5% | 97.2% | 98.9% |
| Percy L. Julian High School | 88 | 97.8% | 97.9% | 98.9% |
| Simeon Career Academy High School | 275 | 95.9% | 97.7% | 98.9% |
| North Lawndale College Prep - Christiana | 71 | 97.6% | 98.7% | 98.6% |
| Legal Prep Academy Charter High School | 66 | 98.8% | 100% | 98.5% |
| Orr Academy High School | 67 | 84.4% | 95.8% | 98.5% |
| Epic Academy High School | 110 | 88.9% | 93.1% | 98.2% |
| Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory High School | 100 | 85.1% | 95.7% | 98% |
| Fenger Academy High School | 92 | 84.4% | 98.4% | 97.9% |
| Raby High School | 46 | 100% | 100% | 97.8% |
| Chicago Technology Academy High School | 87 | 95.7% | 94.1% | 97.7% |
| Chicago Vocational Career Academy High School | 131 | 88.7% | 99.5% | 97.7% |
| Corliss High School | 80 | 87.3% | 98.4% | 97.5% |
| YCCS - Latino Youth Alternative High School | 40 | 90.3% | 94.6% | 97.5% |
| Austin College And Career Academy High School | 39 | 90.7% | 100% | 97.4% |
| CICS - Longwood Campus | 77 | 98.3% | 100% | 97.4% |
| Morgan Park High School | 193 | 92.3% | 94.4% | 97.4% |
| North-Grand High School | 233 | 90.2% | 96.7% | 97.4% |
| Proviso East High School | 310 | 86% | 96.9% | 97.4% |
| Proviso West High School | 305 | 84.3% | 90.1% | 97.4% |
| William H. Wells Community Academy High School | 71 | 93.2% | 97.1% | 97.1% |
| Harlan Community Academy High School | 66 | 88.6% | 95.1% | 97% |
| Hyde Park Academy High School | 154 | 93% | 98.8% | 96.8% |
| University of Chicago Charter - Woodlawn | 63 | 95.4% | 91.1% | 96.8% |
| Chicago Military Academy High School | 60 | 87.2% | 95.2% | 96.7% |
| Multicultural Arts High School | 60 | 81.3% | 100% | 96.7% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - DRW College Prep | 60 | 93.6% | 96.2% | 96.6% |
| Acero Charter School Network - Victoria Soto Campus | 139 | 90.9% | 93.6% | 96.4% |
| Goode Stem Academy High School | 221 | 93.7% | 94.3% | 96.4% |
| Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts | 138 | 91.2% | 97.1% | 96.4% |
| School of Social Justice High School | 77 | 96.7% | 96.1% | 96.1% |
| Manley Career Academy High School | 25 | 69.2% | 100% | 96% |
| Sullivan High School | 125 | 93.7% | 90.7% | 96% |
| Juarez Community Academy High School | 394 | 90.6% | 93.3% | 95.7% |
| Aspira Charter - Business And Finance High School | 134 | 92.6% | 96.9% | 95.6% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy | 89 | 83.9% | 91.4% | 95.5% |
| Perspectives Charter - High School of Technology | 66 | 95.4% | 96% | 95.5% |
| Farragut Career Academy High School | 87 | 91.2% | 98.3% | 95.4% |
| Thornton Township High School | 324 | 88.2% | 93.6% | 95.4% |
| ASPIRA Charter - Early College High School | 86 | 89.4% | 95.3% | 95.3% |
| Clemente Community Academy High School | 127 | 91.1% | 96.8% | 95.3% |
| Steinmetz College Prep High School | 226 | 88.5% | 93.9% | 95.1% |
| Acero Charter School Network - Major Hector P. Garcia Md Campus | 157 | 88.3% | 91.7% | 94.9% |
| Marshall Metropolitan High School | 57 | 78.5% | 100% | 94.8% |
| Instituto Health Science Career Academy - Charter High School | 108 | 94.3% | 98% | 94.5% |
| Perspectives High School of Technology & Leadership Academy | 91 | 100% | 96.1% | 94.5% |
| Hillcrest High School | 269 | 93.9% | 95.1% | 94.4% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Johnson College Prep | 124 | 90.8% | 98% | 94.3% |
| Roosevelt High School | 226 | 92.6% | 95.3% | 94.2% |
| Hirsch Metropolitan High School | 34 | 73.5% | 100% | 94.1% |
| Alcott College Prep High School | 50 | 81.3% | 88.1% | 94% |
| Thornridge High School | 228 | 88.8% | 92.8% | 93.9% |
| YCCS - Jane Addams Alternative High School | 33 | 90.5% | 97.1% | 93.9% |
| Bloom Trail High School | 218 | 81.4% | 88.6% | 93.6% |
| Catalyst Charter - Maria Elementary School | 109 | 88.8% | 92.5% | 93.6% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Gary Comer College Prep | 188 | 85.3% | 91.5% | 93.6% |
| Perspectives Charter - Rodney D. Joslin Campus | 61 | 92.8% | 98.4% | 93.4% |
| Bogan High School | 150 | 91.1% | 97.2% | 93.3% |
| Williams Medical Preparatory High School | 15 | 89.7% | 100% | 93.3% |
| Schurz High School | 310 | 84.7% | 93.2% | 93% |
| Foreman High School | 97 | 95.5% | 98.4% | 92.8% |
| Uplift Community High School | 14 | 96.9% | 92.3% | 92.8% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Butler College Prep | 151 | 92.6% | 98% | 92.7% |
| Thornwood High School | 457 | 86.2% | 90.5% | 91.9% |
| Acero Charter School Network - Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz | 24 | 82.8% | 96% | 91.7% |
| George Washington High School | 370 | 83.9% | 89% | 91.4% |
| ACE Amandla Charter School | 23 | 95.5% | 100% | 91.3% |
| Infinity Math Science and Tech High School | 101 | 89.4% | 84.3% | 91.1% |
| Hubbard High School | 388 | 84.4% | 90.6% | 91% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Mansueto High School | 258 | 66.2% | 86.5% | 91% |
| Horizon Science Academy - Southwest Charter | 33 | 90% | 87.5% | 90.9% |
| Kelly High School | 355 | 90.5% | 91% | 90.9% |
| World Language High School | 77 | 91.7% | 91.9% | 90.9% |
| Rich Central Campus High School | 583 | 89.7% | 89% | 90.6% |
| Bloom High School | 264 | 81.1% | 92% | 90.5% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Hansberry College Prep | 105 | 80% | 90.5% | 90.5% |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower High School | 410 | 87.1% | 86.3% | 90.4% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Pritzker College Prep | 241 | 61.8% | 76.6% | 90.4% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - UIC College Prep | 216 | 57.4% | 84.4% | 90.3% |
| J. Sterling Morton East High School | 993 | 87.6% | 88.7% | 90.2% |
| Curie Metropolitan High School | 747 | 89.3% | 89.6% | 90% |
| Carver Military Academy High School | 99 | 92.2% | 89.3% | 89.9% |
| Thornton Fractional North High School | 255 | 86.4% | 89% | 89.8% |
| Bremen High School | 349 | 85.1% | 87.3% | 89.7% |
| Rickover Naval Academy | 96 | 76.5% | 91.2% | 89.6% |
| Mather High School | 393 | 78.7% | 86% | 89.5% |
| Marine Leadership Academy - Ames | 125 | 88.2% | 83.8% | 88.8% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Chicago Bulls College Prep | 306 | 71.9% | 85.2% | 88.5% |
| South Shore International College Preparatory High School | 82 | 86% | 88.9% | 87.8% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Noble Street College Prep | 157 | 62.2% | 82.1% | 87.3% |
| Prosser Career Academy High School | 245 | 78.1% | 82.3% | 87.3% |
| Thornton Fractional South High School | 440 | 82.4% | 85.5% | 87.2% |
| King College Preparatory High School | 96 | 61.1% | 78.6% | 86.5% |
| Air Force Academy High School | 44 | 94.4% | 90.2% | 86.4% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - ITW David Speer Academy | 284 | 64.3% | 86.1% | 86.2% |
| West Leyden High School | 425 | 75.9% | 83.8% | 85.9% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Baker College Prep | 63 | 84.1% | 92.3% | 85.7% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Rauner College Prep | 160 | 67.9% | 83.8% | 85.7% |
| John F. Kennedy High School | 340 | 71.2% | 83.7% | 85.6% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Muchin College Prep | 220 | 69% | 83% | 85% |
| Lake View High School | 237 | 81.8% | 91.2% | 84.8% |
| Phoenix Military Academy High School | 138 | 76.5% | 87.3% | 84.8% |
| Chicago Math and Science Elementary Charter School | 77 | 70.6% | 71.6% | 84.5% |
| Ogden International High School | 135 | 71.4% | 86.2% | 84.4% |
| Intrinsic Charter High School | 165 | 77.8% | 87.6% | 84.2% |
| Solorio Academy High School | 290 | 72.4% | 80.5% | 84.1% |
| CICS - Northtown Campus | 217 | 86.6% | 85.8% | 83.9% |
| Chicago Academy High School | 142 | 77.3% | 81.3% | 83.1% |
| Harold L. Richards High School | 383 | 81.1% | 79.4% | 83% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - Golder College Prep | 153 | 75% | 89.4% | 83% |
| J. Sterling Morton West High School | 738 | 82.3% | 83.4% | 82.9% |
| Argo Community High School | 449 | 74.5% | 79.8% | 82% |
| Oak Lawn Community High School | 417 | 75% | 78.7% | 82% |
| Reavis High School | 481 | 75.3% | 78.4% | 81.9% |
| Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School | 244 | 77.7% | 82.8% | 80.8% |
| Tinley Park High School | 237 | 66.6% | 73.6% | 79.7% |
| Wheeling High School | 402 | 69.9% | 69% | 78.9% |
| East Leyden High School | 412 | 70.4% | 74.2% | 78.4% |
| Disney II Magnet High School | 159 | 53.3% | 76.8% | 77.3% |
| Noble Street Charter Schools - The Noble Academy | 131 | 63.1% | 81.2% | 77.1% |
| A.B. Shepard High School | 457 | 69.4% | 72.7% | 76.8% |
| Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences | 174 | 67.7% | 73.3% | 75.9% |
| Elmwood Park High School | 215 | 72.5% | 71.9% | 75.9% |
| Evergreen Park High School | 208 | 65.8% | 76.5% | 75% |
| Homewood-Flossmoor High School | 669 | 60% | 71.4% | 74.7% |
| Oak Forest High School | 344 | 62.7% | 72.3% | 74.5% |
| Senn High School | 405 | 65.6% | 77% | 74.5% |
| Maine West High School | 458 | 65.7% | 72.9% | 74.3% |
| Ridgewood Community High School | 190 | 68.4% | 69.8% | 74.2% |
| Westinghouse High School | 292 | 60.2% | 68.7% | 74% |
| Elk Grove High School | 455 | 63.4% | 67.1% | 73.4% |
| Maine East High School | 433 | 64.8% | 68.6% | 72.5% |
| Taft High School | 997 | 62.4% | 70.8% | 72.4% |
| Horizon Science Academy McKinley | 60 | 82.5% | 75.4% | 70% |
| Palatine High School | 641 | 62.3% | 70.4% | 68.8% |
| Kenwood Academy High School | 516 | 63.3% | 64.8% | 68.4% |
| Amundsen High School | 389 | 73.7% | 74% | 67.1% |
| Von Steuben Metro Science High School | 356 | 57.6% | 62.6% | 66.3% |
| Amos Alonzo Stagg High School | 488 | 60.7% | 65% | 65.8% |
| Hoffman Estates High School | 454 | 62.4% | 62.6% | 65.6% |
| Chicago High School for The Arts | 139 | 62.3% | 70.3% | 64% |
| Victor J. Andrew High School | 556 | 55.3% | 64.3% | 64% |
| Niles North High School | 512 | 52.2% | 53.6% | 62.3% |
| Southland College Prep Charter High School | 130 | 62.6% | 63% | 61.5% |
| Niles West High School | 606 | 53.7% | 56.5% | 60.9% |
| Schaumburg High School | 538 | 56.7% | 59.7% | 60.4% |
| Rolling Meadows High School | 484 | 55.5% | 58.2% | 59.7% |
| Devry Advantage Academy High School | 80 | 50.7% | 63.1% | 58.8% |
| Carl Sandburg High School | 713 | 49.9% | 54% | 57% |
| Proviso Math and Science Academy | 214 | 28.4% | 49.2% | 57% |
| Buffalo Grove High School | 466 | 51.3% | 53.3% | 56.8% |
| Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School | 272 | 45.4% | 54.5% | 56.2% |
| James B. Conant High School | 584 | 50.4% | 50.8% | 53.5% |
| Lemont Township High School | 323 | 42.7% | 52.2% | 52.6% |
| Lincoln Park High School | 482 | 48% | 49.3% | 51.7% |
| Riverside Brookfield Township High School | 384 | 46.4% | 54.4% | 50.8% |
| Hancock College Preparatory High School | 232 | 39.4% | 60% | 50% |
| Lyons Township High School | 935 | 40.1% | 45.8% | 49.9% |
| Evanston Township High School | 854 | 47.3% | 47.3% | 48.6% |
| Prospect High School | 549 | 34.6% | 39% | 43.7% |
| Maine South High School | 611 | 36.4% | 43.1% | 43.3% |
| Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy High School | 218 | 30.6% | 40.5% | 40.8% |
| Glenbrook South High School | 759 | 34.9% | 36.9% | 39.8% |
| Oak Park and River Forest High School | 796 | 34.1% | 37.6% | 39.7% |
| William Fremd High School | 667 | 38.2% | 37% | 38.8% |
| John Hersey High School | 484 | 34.8% | 36% | 35.7% |
| New Trier Township High School Winnetka | 945 | 18.2% | 19.8% | 28.1% |
| Glenbrook North High School | 473 | 28.9% | 32.4% | 27.5% |
| Lane Technical High School | 1033 | 12.3% | 14.6% | 12.5% |
| Whitney M. Young Magnet High School | 426 | 6.7% | 10% | 11.5% |
| Northside College Preparatory High School | 261 | 2.2% | 5% | 9.2% |
| Jones College Prep High School | 476 | 4.2% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Payton College Preparatory High School | 272 | 2.9% | 5.2% | 3.7% |
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