their child performed compared to pupils around the country.
The 2006 Illinois Standards Achievement Test results include a pupil’s
“national percentile rank” for reading and math. In addition, 4th and 7th
graders who took the state science test received a national ranking in that
subject.
The rankings are based on multiple-choice questions from the national
Stanford Achievement Test that were inserted into the revamped Illinois exams
taken last spring.
A national percentile ranking of 50 is average. A higher number is above
average; a lower number is below average. Top-performing pupils should see
rankings much higher than 50.
About two-thirds of Illinois students received rankings above 50 in
reading, math and science, according to a Tribune analysis. Chicago Public
Schools students fared worse, with between 42 and 54 percent of students
getting rankings above 50.
About 2.3 million pupils take the Stanford test annually. The rankings are
based on a sampling that includes urban, suburban and rural children across
all regions.
John Wick, a testing expert and adviser to the Illinois State Board of
Education, said a child getting a national ranking above 80 would expect to
get into honors courses in high school.
In some of the most affluent districts, it’s typical for nearly all pupils
to have rankings of 85 or higher, he said.
Parents should look closely at the national ranking compared to their
child’s performance on the ISAT test overall, he said. If there appears to be
a disconnect–such as a child getting the highest “exceeds standards” score on
the ISAT but a low national percentile ranking–parents should go over their
child’s scores closely with teachers.
