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Lincoln Way reports strong Illinois report-card results as state changes benchmarks
Summary
District administrators told the board that Lincoln Way Central and East remained 'exemplary' under the October state report card, West rose to 'commendable' and new ACT-aligned benchmarks and additional freshman/sophomore metrics give a fuller picture of student progress.
Curriculum staff presented highlights from the Illinois school report card released in October, saying Lincoln Way Central and East retained exemplary designations while West improved to a commendable rating and gained 1.2 points overall. The presenter noted new benchmark reporting now includes sophomores and freshmen, and the state’s re‑sized benchmarks align with ACT college‑readiness standards.
The presenter said the district ran its 2025 data through the proposed new accountability model and that “all 3 of our schools are exemplary under the new model.” She emphasized new science benchmark data are now available and that expanded reporting gives the district earlier visibility into student readiness, particularly among underclassmen.
Board members asked how the removal of percentile-based designations and the shift to a three‑metric model (benchmarks met, student growth, graduation rate) might change school labels. The presenter said percentiles are being removed and that a school could be exemplary only if it meets top categorical thresholds; she cautioned the state is still refining the model and that official designations will be finalized in the spring.
Members pressed on a lower EL (English learner) progress-to-proficiency score at Lincoln Way West. Administrators said the subgroup is small (fewer than 20 students) and the metric uses a three‑year rolling growth average that can include scores accrued before students enrolled in the district, complicating comparisons. The presenter also described local supports: increased intervention sections, targeted reading and math pull‑outs, pre‑ACT fall testing funded by the board, and staff work to interpret scores for students and parents.
The presentation closed with a plan to return next year with context for the redesigned accountability system so the board can compare year‑to‑year performance under the new metrics.
