CHICAGO
INTERNATIONAL

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Student Performance Update

Chicago International has made significant progress toward its goal of closing the achievement gap between the performance of our students and the performance of their more economically advantaged peers. This is most evident in the year-on-year positive Growth Index numbers for the NWEA. With this exceptional progress, we fully expect to close the gap in all of our active schools by 2013.

Summary of Outcomes

*ISAT without English Language Learners (ELL) 0-5

CICS Elementary School Performance

NWEA Scores Showing Sustained Growth:

This past year, we increased the overall percentage of students meeting projected growth targets on the NWEA reading and math scale. Spring 2009 NWEA data suggest 65.2% of students in math and 62.0% of students in reading have made their individual growth targets.

CICS exceeded typical growth in math and reading by scoring 2.3 points above the math target and 2.2 points above the reading target. Compared to the previous year, network-wide we have increased the percentage of students who meet their individual growth targets.

Improved ISAT Scores:

Approximately 80% of CICS elementary students are meeting and/or exceeding state standards on the 2009 Illinois State Achievement Test (ISAT) in math and 69% in reading. From 2007 to 2009, we increased our composite ISAT meets/exceeds percentages from 69% to 73.5%. This increase is attributed to the use of student data to make better instructional decisions in the classroom and on the campus level.

Students who meet/exceed State Composite Score Standard

CICS Students who meet/exceed state math standards

CICS Students who meet/exceed state reading standards

CICS High School Performance

Strong Graduation Rates and Improving College Readiness Measures:

In our high schools, Chicago International’s Class of 2009 had a graduation rate of 86%, with an average ACT score of 18.2. The ACT and its college readiness benchmarks can be a critical gatekeeper for student admission into college. Naturally, the ACT has become an important metric for Chicago International, as our mission is to provide a college preparatory education to all of our students.
 
Importantly, we are striving to not only graduate students, but also to graduate students who can be successful in college. The Class of 2010 (tested in spring 2009) achieved an average composite ACT of 18.5. 

  • More than 78% of CICS Northtown campus students met college readiness benchmarks in English.
  • More than 80% of CICS Ralph Ellison campus students met college readiness benchmarks in English
  • At the CICS Longwood campus, more than 63% of students met the college readiness benchmarks in math.
  • CICS continues to increase the percentage of students who are meeting ACT’s college readiness benchmarks.

NWEA: Measuring Growth

Using the Northwest Evaluation Assessment (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress (MAPs) has given Chicago International the ability not only to track the proficiency of students, but also to better evaluate the growth of our students. This has helped us to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all students regardless of their individual achievement levels. Furthermore, this information has allowed the organization to set growth and proficiency targets that are aligned with state standards.

NWEA Growth Index

We also utilize the NWEA Growth Index (GI) to gain perspective on the amount of growth we have accomplished above our targets. The GI measures the amount of points on NWEA’s scale in which a student or group exceeds typical growth.