In a recent Committee of the Whole meeting held by Flossmoor School District 161, educators and administrators gathered to discuss the spring assessment updates, highlighting both achievements and areas for improvement within the district. The meeting, which took place on June 23, 2025, provided a comprehensive overview of various assessment data, including the 5 Essentials survey results, MAP assessments, and the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR).

The meeting began with a presentation from Miss Crawford, who outlined the key data points from the spring assessments. The 5 Essentials survey, which evaluates school success based on leadership, collaboration, environment, instruction, and family involvement, showed that Flossmoor Hills School maintained its top rating of "well organized." However, Western Avenue School experienced a decline from "well organized" to "organized," prompting discussions on the need for targeted improvements.

A significant focus of the meeting was the introduction of student experience surveys, which were administered for the first time to parents, students, and staff. The data from these surveys, alongside the 5 Essentials results, revealed critical trends regarding student safety, teacher-student relationships, and peer interactions. These insights will inform the district's school improvement plans, emphasizing a unified goal to enhance the culture and climate across all schools.

In terms of academic performance, the spring MAP assessments indicated notable gains in mathematics, particularly at Flossmoor Hills, which saw a 13-point increase in student achievement. Other schools also reported improvements, although reading scores did not reflect the same level of progress. The district acknowledged the challenges posed by the recent implementation of standards-based grading, which requires ongoing adjustments and support for staff.

The preliminary results from the IAR assessments were also discussed, with a particular emphasis on the need for caution in interpreting the data due to upcoming changes in state cut scores. Notably, fourth-grade math scores showed a remarkable increase of 17 percentage points, while eighth-grade students at Parker Junior High achieved a 9.2-point gain in math, marking a significant turnaround for the school.

The meeting concluded with a call to action for educators to analyze successful strategies from high-performing teams and replicate these practices across the district. The collaborative efforts observed in eighth grade, where students demonstrated high achievement and low suspension rates, were highlighted as a model for other grades.

Overall, the discussions at the meeting underscored the district's commitment to continuous improvement in both academic performance and school culture. As Flossmoor SD 161 moves forward, the focus will remain on leveraging data-driven insights to foster an environment conducive to student success.