2024 Achievement Report
Student Achievement Scores Among Top In State
District 28 student proficiency in English language arts and math are among the highest in the state according to recently released data from the 2024 Illinois Assessment of Readiness.
The IAR is one of the assessments the district uses to monitor student success. The IAR is a standardized assessment that measures student knowledge and skills by grade level in grades 3-8. Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer said it is a challenging assessment; the benchmark for proficiency is the fourth highest in the nation.
District-wide, the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards in English language arts grew three percentage points to 81% in 2024. These results place the district scores in the top 1% in the state. In math, the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards has been fairly stable for the past three years with a score of 74% in 2024, which also is in the top 1% in the state.
Dr. Raitzer and Director of Learning Michelle Jackson presented the district’s annual Assessment Report. The report also includes scores by school and by student cohort. The cohort data allows the district to monitor student growth as they progress through the grades.
“Teachers are doing a great job of challenging students and providing the level of rigor that students need,” Dr Raitzer said. “We see fewer students performing at the lowest levels and more students at the higher levels as students grow through the years.”
The Illinois Science Assessment, which is administered to 5th and 8th grade students around the same time, shows a 4.3 percent gain, resulting in 86.4% meeting or exceeding state standards. Ms. Jackson said there were multiple factors that impacted the results. Elementary grades began using a new curriculum last year, Smithsonian Science For The Classroom, which is more hands-on, scientific research-based learning. At Northbrook Junior High, science teachers have also refined assessments to measure how well students apply learned information to new situations.
Each school principal shared how their teachers analyze student performance, adjust instructional strategies and design student supports based on the results.
“While we hold high expectations for our students in terms of academic achievement, it is essential that we don’t lose sight of our commitment to educating the whole child,” said Dr. Scott Meek, Northbrook Junior High Principal. “We learned through our cohort work with Dignity Consulting that a sense of belonging must come before achievement, not after. We want to ensure that our students feel supported in their work and that we value their efforts. Along those lines, our primary focus this school year is to create a more supportive school environment.”
Listen to the full report presented by Dr. Raitzer, Ms. Jackson and Principals Dr. Scott Meek, Maria Eck and Ericka Garza and Dr. Ginny Hiltz, on the district’s YouTube Channel Livestream from Nov. 19.
