Illinois 2024 School Report Card Shows Rising Graduation Rates Amid Declining SAT Scores

Despite record-high graduation rates, Illinois faces challenges with declining SAT scores and persistent racial disparities in academic proficiency.

Illinois' high school graduation rate reached 87.7% in 2023-24, continuing a decade-long upward trend.
SAT scores for Illinois high school juniors have dropped, with an average composite score of 950.3, down from 960.9 last year.
Elementary students have shown significant improvement in English Language Arts, surpassing pre-pandemic proficiency levels.
Math proficiency remains a challenge, with only 27.9% of students meeting state standards, down from 32% in 2019.
Chronic absenteeism is high among high school students, impacting academic performance and contributing to declining test scores.