Details

Why is the district emphasizing growth rather than the final junior year score?

Focusing only on a final score overlooks the distance a student has traveled. By measuring Student Growth Percentiles (SGP) year over year, our teachers can step in early with targeted instruction, celebrate incremental progress, and help every student reach their personal potential.

How does District 230 measure 9th grade growth?

Growth doesn't start from scratch in high school! We connect your student's 8th-grade Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) data to their Fall PreACT 8/9 results. This establishes an early high school baseline, helping teachers customize support and guide students toward postsecondary career clusters.

Why do freshmen test scores count if college applications don’t start till junior year?

Freshman scores count because they establish a student's high school baseline. They allow teachers to spot skill gaps early, adjust classroom instruction, and help students begin mapping out course pathways and trade/career interests. State assessment scores play a central role in how ISBE evaluates and designates school quality on the annual Illinois School Report Card.

My child plans to enter a trade union or go straight into the workforce. Why do the PreACT and ACT matter for them?

The core skills tested, such as reading technical passages, interpreting data, and solving multi-step math problems mirror the exact skills measured on union trade apprenticeship entrance exams (such as the IBEW electrical test, plumbing, and carpentry exams). Strong subscores demonstrate job readiness to prospective employers and trade committees.

How do ACT scores impact community college students (e.g., Moraine Valley Community College)?

Meeting benchmark scores in Math and Reading allows students to skip remedial, non-credit courses and enroll directly in credit-bearing college classes, saving both time and tuition. Strong scores can also qualify students for community college Honors Programs.

What happens if a junior misses the mandatory Spring ACT test day?

Testing is an Illinois graduation requirement, any student who misses the state test date must take the exam on the state-scheduled makeup date.

Is it better to guess on a question or leave it blank?

Always guess! There is no penalty for wrong answers. Leaving a question blank guarantees 0 points, but guessing gives you a 20–25% chance of earning points. Effort always counts.

Do parents need to purchase external, expensive ACT prep courses?

No! District 230 provides all students with 24/7 access to free, high-quality test prep tools, including NoRedInk, Albert.io, and the ACT Gemini Bot.

What does each district-provided test prep tool do?

• NoRedInk: Focuses on English grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, and rhetorical strategies through adaptive practice.
• Albert.io: Provides thousands of interactive practice questions across Math, Reading, Science, and English with instant, step-by-step answer explanations.

Can students access these tools at home?

Yes. The above platforms are cloud-based and accessible 24/7 through Classlink.