On October 31, the Illinois State Board of Education released the new ESSA School Report Card. This report shows how the state and each school district is progressing on a variety of educational goals ranging from student achievement to district finances. In addition, this year the report includes a performance designation for each school in the state. These ratings are given based on numerous indicators that include student performance on state testing, student attendance, and graduation rate. While the ESSA plan looks at the school as a whole, there is an increased focus on how subgroups of students are performing.
Gilman Elementary, the Upper Elementary, and the High School have all received “Commendable” ratings. Iroquois West Middle School received a rating of “Underperforming.” This designation was given as a result of the composite score of the special education subgroup. Danforth Elementary is not rated due to the age level served.
As a result of the designation, the Middle School received a grant, which will be used to work with Illinois MTSS Network to conduct a needs assessment and work on a plan to address the area of concern. The District is also working closely with the Iroquois Special Education Cooperative to improve the performance for this subgroup of students. The Middle School has already taken steps to improve student performance by increasing instructional minutes, adopting a more consistent English Language Arts and Math curriculum, adding Explore classes, and implementing the Second Step curriculum to meet social emotional needs of students. The District is proud of all its schools, and is continuously looking for ways to improve the educational experience of all students served.
More information can be found here: Iroquois West Illinois State Report Cards