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District 59 reports widespread gains on Illinois School Report Card
Summary
Associate Superintendent Tom told the board that District 59 improved on more than 75% of report-card measures, with 13 of 14 schools rated commendable and one exemplary; administrators highlighted growth-driven gains across reading, math and English-learner outcomes.
Community Consolidated School District 59 administrators told the board Nov. 13 that the district showed broad improvement on the 2023–24 Illinois School Report Card.
"We saw improvement in over 75% of the data points in the report," said Tom, the district's associate superintendent, during a condensed presentation of the 107-page state report. He said 64.5% of district measures outperform the state and that 13 of 14 schools received a commendable rating while one earned an exemplary designation.
The presentation explained the state's five summative categories (exemplary, commendable, targeted, comprehensive and intensive) and noted that growth counts for 50% of a school's summative score. Tom pointed to strong cohort growth in reading — giving an example where a cohort moved from about 14.6% proficiency to 43.2% as students progressed through grades — and said math proficiency improved across multiple schools and student groups.
On English learners, administrators said access and exit rates rose: "12 of 14 schools and 8 of 9 grade levels increased their exit rates," Tom said, and the district's long-term EL rate (5.8%) remains lower than the state (23.1%). The trustees also heard that chronic absenteeism remains a concern at about 23.8% districtwide, though it declined for the second consecutive year.
Board members asked whether teachers and staff have access to the data. Tom said building principals and teachers receive student-level reports and that the full report will be shared in the board's Friday update and is available online for public review.
Administrators emphasized that the report is a starting point for instructional adjustments and that benchmarking, math-team reviews and targeted professional development are used to address gaps. The presentation closed with the board congratulating staff and schools for the improvements and noting continued work on achievement gaps across student subgroups.
The board did not take formal action on the report; the full 107-page report will be posted with the board materials.
