Waukegan district reports gains in several state-designation measures; board asks for state comparisons

Amanda Milewski and Dr. Jonathan Brown presented the district's 2024–25 ISBE ESSA designations and the data that drive them, explaining the five designation categories (exemplary, commendable, targeted support, comprehensive support, and intensive support) and the metrics used for elementary/middle (IAR proficiency and growth, EL progress, science, chronic absenteeism, climate survey) and high school (ACT proficiency, graduation rate, ninth-grade on-track, climate).

Highlights staff cited included nine schools improving their scores and district-wide increases in growth across the 5Essentials; an increasing graduation rate (reported at just under 84% and trending upward) and improvement in English learner access and proficiency. Dr. Brown said district average daily attendance was above 90% and chronic absenteeism had dropped to just under 35%.

District staff noted that the state set new cut scores for assessments earlier in the year, which changed performance-level thresholds. Several board members asked how district scores compared to state averages. Dr. Brown said the state report card was released Oct. 30 and that full comparative data files were not available at the time the presentation was prepared; he agreed to update slides and provide state-comparison figures to the board.

The district recognized principals and schools that achieved commendable designations and presented banners to school leaders during the meeting.

Board members applauded principals and asked administration to circulate the updated state-comparison presentation when available.