Rockford Sun

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, Rockford metro area high school graduation rates remain high, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 13 schools analyzed in Boone and Winnebago counties, South Beloit High School showed the greatest disparity. In a year when 87 percent of seniors graduated on time, just 18 percent of students actually passed annual tests that the state uses to determine who is "ready for the next level."

The end-of-year tests known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, are administered to third- through eighth-graders in Illinois, testing them based on Common Core standards. High schoolers also took the tests through 2016. 

A composite score combines the results of the subject tests. Students whose scores either meet or exceed expectations are considered "ready for the next level."

Schools' graduation fraud index shows the difference between the composite passing rate and the graduation rate.

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Graduation fraud index

Rockford metro area high school	School district	City	Annual exam pass rate (%)	Graduation rate (%)	Graduation fraud index
South Beloit High School	County Of Winnebago Sd 320	South Beloit	17.8	87.3	-69.5
Belvidere North High School	Belvidere Cusd 100	Belvidere	18	83.3	-65.3
Belvidere High School	Belvidere Cusd 100	Belvidere	23.1	85.8	-62.7
Harlem High School	Harlem Ud 122	Machesney Park	13.6	74.1	-60.5
Guilford High School	Rockford Sd 205	Rockford	14.2	72.4	-58.2
Winnebago High School	Winnebago Cusd 323	Winnebago	35	90.7	-55.7
North Boone High School	North Boone Cusd 200	Poplar Grove	29	82.4	-53.4
Jefferson High School	Rockford Sd 205	Rockford	10	63.3	-53.3
Rockford East High School	Rockford Sd 205	Rockford	13.2	60.8	-47.6
Auburn High School	Rockford Sd 205	Rockford	16.1	62.8	-46.7
Pecatonica High School	Pecatonica Cusd 321	Pecatonica	42.3	85.7	-43.4
Hononegah High School	Hononegah Chd 207	Rockton	50.2	91.2	-41
Durand High School	Durand Cusd 322	Durand	58.2	88.1	-29.9

Source: Illinois State Board of Education