All three Richland County CUSD 1 schools earn ‘commendable’ designation; administrators highlight ELA gains

District administration presented the 2025 Illinois school report card and said all three Richland County Community School District 1 schools received a “commendable” designation.

The district’s presenter explained the report‑card framework, described changes to Illinois assessments and how the transition among SAT and ACT testing formats has complicated year‑to‑year comparisons. Administration noted: the elementary school overall index approximated the low 70s, the middle school index was 76.34, and the high school index was 87.26. Leaders emphasized growth in English/language arts and incremental gains in math: they reported about 66% of current eighth‑grade students tested proficient or above in ELA and an improvement in eighth‑grade math proficiency from roughly 28% to about 41% since the COVID‑era baseline. Administration attributed gains to new curricular investments, instructional coaching, and targeted interventions.

Board members asked about teacher feedback on changing tests and whether students were prepared for the ACT switch. Administration said instructional coaches and department heads were attending ISBE training and ACT‑specific webinars to adapt instruction and interventions.

The board thanked teachers and staff and discussed next steps to sustain growth as state reporting and cut scores evolve.

No action was required on the report card itself; administration will continue monthly reporting on indicators of success and provide updates on instructional strategies.