District 99 reviews 2025 school report card: graduation rates high, chronic absenteeism a concern
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Summary
District 99 administrators presented the 2025 school report card: district four‑year graduation rate ~91.6% (state ~89%), North index score 87.41, South 83.51, and chronic absenteeism at 23.7%; state report rules and ACT return were explained.
District administrators reviewed the school report card released last week and walked board members through key accountability indicators including summative designations, graduation rates, ACT proficiency measures and chronic absenteeism.
Gina (district assessment/administrator) explained how the state assigns summative designations to individual schools and noted the return to the ACT for grade‑11 assessment. She reported District 99’s four‑year graduation rate at about 91.6% compared with a state rate near 89% and said the district’s five‑year average is 92.8%.
Index scores were presented for both high schools: North High’s overall index was 87.41 (short of the exemplary threshold Gina noted) while South High’s index was 83.51 and rated "commendable." Gina explained that the state recently removed certain transitional (T99) students from graduation‑rate calculations, which affects five‑ and six‑year figures.
Gina also clarified chronic absenteeism as the federal/state definition of missing 10% or more of school days (counting excused and unexcused absences with limited exceptions). She reported district chronic absenteeism at 23.7% last year and said the district will continue to present deeper comparative data and freshman‑on‑track analysis at a follow‑up meeting.
Board members asked for interpretation of proficiency measures; Gina said a single test is not a growth measure and pointed to other indicators (GPA, transition math programs) that provide additional context. The district will return with a deeper review at a subsequent meeting.