Dentsler Elementary touts third consecutive 5-star overall rating, flags early literacy for improvement

Renee Czerniak, principal of Dentsler Elementary School, told the Farmer City School District Board of Education on March 20 that Dentsler has earned a 5‑star overall school rating for the third year since the state rating system began and continues to outperform state standards.

Czerniak said Dentsler also scored four stars in achievement, with “over 67 percent of our students test[ing] in the accomplished and advanced rating,” and that when proficient scores are included the combined total exceeded 80 percent. She credited use of the district instructional playbook, consistent grade‑level collaboration, the district‑adopted curriculum and the Quest tutoring program for the results.

The school’s gap‑closing measure was also a strength, Czerniak said, earning five stars and reflecting performance across multiple student subgroups, including English learners and gifted students. She described targeted supports such as Title I services, intervention specialists and weekly teacher‑based team (TBT) monitoring of benchmark data.

Czerniak identified early literacy as the school’s lowest area, with a three‑star rating that still meets state standards. She said Dentsler has trained core teachers in the science of reading and uses prevention, intervention and enrichment strategies to raise kindergarten through third‑grade literacy. Czerniak also noted third‑grade ELA proficiency remained “just below 70 percent” and that raising that figure remains a priority.

Czerniak reported a dip in the advanced performance band—from about 42.5 percent to about 35.8 percent year to year—but said gains in other bands helped keep overall achievement high. She said the Quest Tutoring program provides out‑of‑school‑time tutoring and that “about 85 students” participate beyond the school day.

On attendance, Czerniak said the school’s chronic absenteeism rate is well below the state target, reporting 13.9 percent. She described weekly attendance team meetings involving the principal, dean of students and home liaison and said the school uses parent outreach, a kindergarten orientation message about required attendance and a weekly recognition draw to improve attendance.

Board members thanked staff and families for the presentation and for bringing students to the meeting. Czerniak invited the board and public to visit Dentsler to see its programs in person.

The presentation covered the school report card data, current interventions and next steps to raise early literacy and third‑grade proficiency.