Sycamore School District celebrates 5-star rating on state report card update

The Sycamore Board of Education meeting on October 9, 2024, focused on a comprehensive update regarding the district's state report card, highlighting significant achievements and areas for improvement.

Miss Lawson, a new member of the district, presented an overview of the report card data, celebrating the district's impressive five-star rating, which indicates that Sycamore has significantly exceeded state standards. The report card is based on five components: achievement, progress, graduation, early literacy, and gap closing. Lawson emphasized that achievement and progress are the most heavily weighted components, contributing significantly to the overall rating.

The district's achievement scores showed notable growth, particularly in areas such as geometry and eighth-grade math, with a 6.1% increase in performance. However, challenges remain, especially in fifth-grade math, where further support for teachers is needed. The data also revealed that while students with disabilities did not show growth in math, they met the state's expectations for graduation rates.

The meeting also addressed early literacy, where the district received a four-star rating. Lawson noted improvements in third-grade proficiency and a significant increase in the percentage of students moving from "not on track" to "on track" in literacy, rising from 40% to 55.4%.

Overall, the meeting underscored the district's commitment to celebrating successes while also recognizing areas that require attention and support. The board plans to continue analyzing data to enhance educational outcomes for all students, ensuring that the hard work of teachers and staff translates into sustained progress.