While 29 District U-46 schools were deemed “commendable” in this year’s Illinois Report Card, 22 were cited as “comprehensive” or “targeted,” meaning improvement is needed in one or more areas.
The data was presented Monday night to the district school board, which was told additional funding and resources will be directed to those schools that are not meeting state expectations.
“(The Illinois State Board of Education) has identified clear next steps for (the targeted and comprehensive schools) and support to move student outcomes in a stronger direction, where all students can show growth and increased proficiency in reading and math,” Assistant Superintendent of Schools Annette Acevedo told the board.
The report card evaluates every district in the state based on a number of factors, including test results. Schools can be rated “exemplary,” “commendable,” “targeted,” “comprehensive” or “intensive support.”
Exemplary schools are those performing in the top 10%, while those deemed commendable are meeting expectations. Targeted, comprehensive and intensive support schools receive additional funding and support to improve student outcomes, according to the state board of education.
The 15 targeted schools are Ellis and Kimball middle schools in Elgin, Century Oaks, Coleman, Creekside, Highland, Hillcrest, Huff, Lords Park, Lowrie, McKinley and Washington elementary schools in Elgin, Clinton Elementary in South Elgin and Heritage and Oakhill elementary schools in Streamwood.
Acevedo noted that all of the targeted schools have programs for children with disabilities. Kimball, Century Oaks and Washington were identified by the state for the number of Black students enrolled and Kimball and Century Oaks were identified as serving low-income neighborhoods.
Kimball was also flagged for its high number of English learners.
A comprehensive designation means one or more student groups are performing at or below the “all students” group of the lowest performing 5% of schools, according to the ISBE website.
It also includes schools that have completed a full four-year targeted support school improvement cycle, where the performance of one or more of the originally targeted student groups remains at or below the level of the “all students” group in the lowest-performing 5%, the site says.
Schools receiving the comprehensive designation were Abbott and Larsen middle schools in Elgin, Canton and Tefft middle schools in Streamwood, Channing and Ronald O’Neal elementary schools in Elgin, and Parkwood Elementary in Hanover Park.
The designation was new for Abbott and Channing, Acevedo said.
With the district in the midst of bringing its U-46 Rising Schools of Rigor and Equity initiative to all schools, Acevedo said she felt confident improvements will be seen at the 22 schools cited as needing help by the state.
The new approach to the classroom stresses team learning and problem solving.
“It will not happen overnight, but I feel confident that we will start seeing a shift since we know it takes three to five years of focused and sustained effort to start seeing results,” Acevedo said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
