Report: 43 percent of 2017 Westmont High School graduates in Illinois community colleges had to take remedial classes

In the two years after 99% of Westmont High School's class of 2017 graduated on time, 43 percent of those who attended Illinois community colleges had to enroll in remedial courses because they weren't prepared for college-level classes, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Data from the class that graduated in 2017 shows 73 percent of Westmont students enrolled in two- or four-year programs at college or university within 12 months of graduating high school, compared to 70 percent across the state. After 16 months, the rate was 76 percent.

Of the Westmont graduates attending Illinois community colleges, 37 percent took remedial courses in math and 7 percent took them in communications.

Statewide, 44 percent of students enrolled in community colleges across the state had to take remedial classes.