Sangamon Sun

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

Of the 20 schools analyzed in Logan, Menard and Sangamon counties, Greenview Jr./Sr. High School showed the greatest disparity. In a year when 89 percent of seniors graduated on time, just 8 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

Springfield metro area high school	School district	City	Annual exam pass rate (%)	Graduation rate (%)	Graduation fraud index
Greenview Jr/Sr High School	Greenview Cusd 200	Greenview	7.7	88.9	-81.2
Tri-City High School	Tri City Cusd 1	Buffalo	16.1	91.7	-75.6
Glenwood High School	Ball Chatham Cusd 5	Chatham	17.3	90.9	-73.6
Williamsville High School	Williamsville Cusd 15	Williamsville	24.9	98.2	-73.3
Rochester High School	Rochester Cusd 3A	Rochester	20.8	93.7	-72.9
Pleasant Plains High School	Pleasant Plains Cusd 8	Pleasant Plains	21.4	91.7	-70.3
Springfield Southeast High School	Springfield Sd 186	Springfield	12.7	80	-67.3
Pawnee Junior High School	Pawnee Cusd 11	Pawnee	18.5	84.4	-65.9
Lanphier High School	Springfield Sd 186	Springfield	7.7	73.5	-65.8
Auburn High School	Auburn Cusd 10	Auburn	26.4	90.4	-64
Porta High School	Porta Cusd 202	Petersburg	21.7	84.8	-63.1
New Berlin High School	New Berlin Cusd 16	New Berlin	32.1	94.3	-62.2
Riverton High School	Riverton Cusd 14	Riverton	22.8	83.6	-60.8
Athens Sr High School	Athens Cusd 213	Athens	30.6	88.7	-58.1
Springfield High School	Springfield Sd 186	Springfield	34.2	88	-53.8
Hartsburg-Emden Jr-Sr High School	Hartsburg Emden Cusd 21	Hartsburg	33.3	85	-51.7
Springfield Learning Academy	Springfield Sd 186	Springfield	0	27.8	-27.8
Lincoln Community High School	Lincoln Chsd 404	Lincoln	51.8	77.2	-25.4
Mount Pulaski High School	Mt Pulaski Cusd 23	Mount Pulaski	77.2	86.8	-9.6

Source: Illinois State Board of Education