RANTOUL, Ill. (WAND)- Rantoul City School District 137 (RCS) has made significant progress in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency over the past two years.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released the annual Illinois Report Card on Wednesday, and districts around the area are evaluating their results.
According to RCSD 137, the district-wide English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency improved from 6.3% in 2022 to 10.3% in 2023, reaching 16.1% in 2024. This represents a significant improvement of over 150% in just two years. In contrast, mathematics scores have remained consistent from 2023 to 2024.
The District says its junior high program, including JW Eater Junior High and RISE Academy, demonstrated strong performance, particularly in ELA. Junior high ELA proficiency rose from 11.3% in 2023 to 22.7% in 2024, the largest single-year improvement across any test in the district.
Heather Jacobs, Principal of JW Eater Junior High, attributes much of this success to a focused literacy improvement plan. "Our team worked diligently to address the needs of each student, and our teachers and support staff were fully aligned with the focus on ELA," Jacobs said.
ELA teacher Sarah McKinstry highlighted the effort made by both students and staff. "Our students were incredibly dedicated, and our teachers maintained a laser focus on delivering engaging and meaningful instruction. It required significant effort, and I’m grateful that our hard work is reflected in the improved student outcomes," McKinstry noted.
The implementation of RISE Academy, which began last school year, also contributed to the junior high's progress.
DeAndre Henderson, Director of Alternative Programs, emphasized the collaborative approach: "Whether they attend RISE or JW Eater, all our students are part of the same community, and their success is shared. We are committed to meeting students' needs, including improving attendance and reducing suspensions."
Junior high behavior and attendance metrics also improved, with a 34% reduction in out-of-school suspensions and an increase in average daily attendance to 92.4%.
Superintendent Scott Woods expressed appreciation for the Board of Education's support in launching RISE Academy. "The Board’s vision for RISE has proven to be a major asset to our junior high students, and its impact will benefit the community long-term," Woods stated.
District-wide attendance has shown positive trends. Chronic truancy rates decreased from 34.6% in 2022 to 19.9% in 2024, which is slightly better than the state average.
Additionally, chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing 10% or more of school days, has also improved, dropping from 47.3% in 2022 to 24.2% in 2024—again surpassing state averages.
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