Metro East Sun

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

Of the 24 schools analyzed in Madison, St. Clair and Jersey counties, Freeburg Community High School showed the greatest disparity. In a year when 96 percent of seniors graduated on time, just 21 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

Metro East high school	School district	City	Annual exam pass rate (%)	Graduation rate (%)	Graduation fraud index
Freeburg Community High School	Freeburg Chsd 77	Freeburg	21.1	96.3	-75.2
Dupo High School	Dupo Cusd 196	Dupo	13.1	88	-74.9
Madison Senior High School	Madison Cusd 12	Madison	6.8	80.6	-73.8
Siu Charter School of East St. Louis	East St Louis Sd 189	East Saint Louis	21	93.1	-72.1
East Alton-Wood River High School	East Alton-Wood River Chsd 14	Wood River	17.6	85	-67.4
Triad High School	Triad Cusd 2	Troy	28.8	96	-67.2
East St. Louis Senior High School	East St Louis Sd 189	East Saint Louis	4.2	71.1	-66.9
Cahokia High School	Cahokia Cusd 187	Cahokia	5.9	70.9	-65
Collinsville High School	Collinsville Cusd 10	Collinsville	17.4	81.1	-63.7
New Athens High School	New Athens Cusd 60	New Athens	27.8	88.6	-60.8
Marissa Jr & Sr High School	Marissa Cusd 40	Marissa	18.2	77.5	-59.3
Lebanon High School	Lebanon Cusd 9	Lebanon	24.6	80	-55.4
Jersey Community High School	Jersey Cusd 100	Jerseyville	33.7	88.8	-55.1
Edwardsville High School	Edwardsville Cusd 7	Edwardsville	39.3	94.2	-54.9
Alton High School	Alton Cusd 11	Alton	27.6	80.1	-52.5
Civic Memorial High School	Bethalto Cusd 8	Bethalto	36.8	88.6	-51.8
Roxana Sr High School	Roxana Cusd 1	Roxana	33.2	84.5	-51.3
Granite City High School	Granite City Cusd 9	Granite City	25	74.7	-49.7
Mascoutah High School	Mascoutah Cud 19	Mascoutah	40.4	88.6	-48.2
Belleville High School-West	Belleville Twp Hsd 201	Belleville	47	89.6	-42.6
O Fallon High School	O Fallon Twp Hsd 203	O Fallon	50.5	90.5	-40
Belleville High School-East	Belleville Twp Hsd 201	Belleville	49.4	88.5	-39.1
Highland High School	Highland Cusd 5	Highland	51.7	86.6	-34.9

Source: Illinois State Board of Education