Peru Public Schools ISAT Scores Very Strong
Reading and Math Scores on Five-Year Upward Trend
Dear Parents and Community Members,
On the Spring 2009 Illinois Standards Achievement test (ISAT), 88.6 percent of all Peru Public Schools District 124 students met or exceeded standards in mathematics, while 84.5 percent did so in reading. While these are clearly among the best overall test scores in our school district’s history, it is also part of an ongoing trend. Peru Public Schools has continued to top our previous year’s scores every year for five straight years, with actual improvements in each of these years in both reading and math – and doing so while the percentage of low income students has increased over 40 percent in that same time period.
The following table outlines the last five years of history for the percentages of students meeting and exceeding state standards in reading and mathematics, and trending this information with some of our biggest challenges:
Percentage of All Peru Public Schools Students Meeting or Exceeding State Standards in Reading and Mathematics
| Subject/ | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| School Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Reading | 71.3 | 79.2 | 81.1 | 81.6 | 84.5 |
| Mathematics | 75.5 | 84.9 | 87.4 | 87.9 | 88.6 |
| % Low Income | 24.9 | 27.8 | 30.6 | 30.9 | 35.1 |
A five year improvement trend does not happen by accident. Rather, these improvements have been part of a systematic effort to improvement the learning and achievement of our children. Our principals, teachers and support staff have worked very hard to implement a number of efforts to improve in all areas, including curriculum mapping, assessment, data analysis, differentiated instruction and RtI, supported by continuous and ongoing professional development to support these efforts. This work has been fully supported by our Board of Education, both in its strategic planning and goals, as well as financially.
The ISAT is just one measure of how our students learn, but it is the standard by which we are judged, and Peru Public Schools continues to set itself apart in many ways. We are hesitant to get caught up in test scores for purposes of recognition, as we prefer to simply use this data as a barometer for improvement. Nevertheless, we certainly want to recognize the hard work and effort of our students, faculty and staff, as well as show our appreciation for the supportive parents and community that we have in Peru.
We encourage you to review our School Report Cards for each building, which are posted in the table below from the previous seven school years (Adobe Acrobat is required). Please understand that the most recent data available is from the 2008-09 school term.
Please contact your child’s principal or me if you have any questions or comments. Thank you for your support of our children and our schools.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
| 2009 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
| 2008 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
| 2007 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
| 2006 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
| 2005 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
| 2004 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
| 2003 | Washington | Northview | Roosevelt |
