Education
CPS Elementary Students Show Gains in English, Math on State Assessment
(WTTW News)
Elementary students across Chicago showed gains on statewide testing in English and math for a second year in a row — improvements officials said were largely driven by Black students.
Chicago Public Schools on Thursday announced that preliminary state assessment figures show students in grades 3-8 achieved gains in both subjects on the spring Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exam.
“These gains are a testament to our vision, and the dedication of our principals, teachers, support staff, and parents — as well as our hard working students,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said in a statement. “The academic progress of our elementary school students bodes well for their future success in high school and beyond.”
According to the district, CPS students overall saw an increase of five percentage points on their English Language Arts results on this year’s exam compared to 2023 and a two percentage point increase on their math scores.
CPS said the English gains were due in large part to the scores of the district’s Black students, who recorded a six percentage point increase over the previous school year.
Overall, 31% of students in grades 3-8 achieved proficiency in English Language Arts, which CPS said was up from 26% a year prior.
The IAR results come after findings from Harvard and Stanford researchers earlier this year showed CPS was first in reading recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic among large school districts across the country, and 13th in math. Nineteen percent of students achieved proficiency in math, which was a 2% increase from 2023.
“It is clear that when given access to strong Districtwide resources and supports, our students will succeed,” CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said in a statement. “We look forward to accelerating academic growth in the coming school year with strong core instruction and intentional classroom staffing, programming, and resources to provide a safe and joyful school experience for all students.”
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
