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Stevenson board hears student achievement report showing gains in AP and dual‑credit participation

Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 Board of Education · November 18, 2025
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Summary

District presenters told the Board of Education that AP scores and dual‑credit participation reached record levels and described a shift to an evidence‑based grading model backed by third‑party test results. Administrators also flagged attendance as an area needing improvement.

Tony (presenter, district administration) and Ted (presenter, district administration) presented the Adlai E. Stevenson HSD 125 Student Achievement Report, telling the Board that the district’s performance measures show rising college‑level participation and stronger AP results. "We are continued to grow," Tony said as he introduced enrollment and assessment data.

The report described a shift from a bell‑curve distribution of grades to a competency‑ or evidence‑based grading model that the presenters said produces more A‑level outcomes while remaining supported by outside exam results. Tony said the district’s AP distribution of 4s and 5s has risen into the 70s and reported that in 2024–25 about 79% of AP scores were 4s and 5s, a level presenters called the highest in recent years.

Presenters reviewed state‑day ACT results for the class of 2026 and internal composites. On the school‑day ACT the transcript reports a Stevenson composite of 25.2; when all test sittings are counted presenters reported a composite of 25.9. TED and Troy noted that students who take the ACT multiple times tend to raise their composite scores, and the district is expanding in‑district practice opportunities (from about 400 seats previously to 800 this year) to give students more preparation before the state test day.

Administrators also highlighted college‑level opportunities: the district reported 688 students in dual‑credit courses and its highest‑ever number of AP exams administered (reported in the packet as more than 7,000 exams). Presenters said roughly two‑thirds of juniors and seniors (reported as 67%) took at least one AP exam in the most recent year and that 94% of graduates completed at least one college‑level experience.

Board members questioned several data points, including a surprising increase in freshmen taking AP exams (reported as a spike to 58 exam takers across multiple exams); presenters said they verified the counts but recommended further exploration to understand the pattern. On the topic of students who sign up for an AP course but do not take the exam, presenters said the district does not systematically capture student voice on why some decline to test, though counselors and staff follow up with families and seniors sometimes choose not to test if their college will not grant additional credit.

Attendance was identified as a lingering weakness. Presenters said the district will increase family communications (email reminders and tracking) and roll out incentives in coming months to reduce absences and improve attendance on assessment days.

The Board accepted the report and thanked Tony and Ted for the packet of data; presenters noted a hard copy had been circulated to board members for deeper review.