Frankfort School District 157-C

October 30, 2025

Good Afternoon Frankfort School District 157-C Families,

Today, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released the annual Illinois Report Card, available at www.illinoisreportcard.com. This report provides a detailed analysis of performance data for our three schools from the 2024–2025 school year. As a key accountability measure, it offers valuable information for evaluating our progress and identifying opportunities for continued improvement. The data informs our ongoing efforts to strengthen the educational environment and support the success of every student.

We share this information with our community because it’s important for families to understand how our schools are performing and how we use this data to improve. This isn’t about celebrating scores—it’s about being transparent, accountable, and focused on growth. Standardized assessments are one way the state measures school and student success, and we take that responsibility seriously. However, they represent only one piece of the bigger picture. We measure success in many other ways that also matter deeply to our mission—helping students develop strong study habits and executive functioning skills, supporting their emotional well-being, building independence, encouraging participation in a wide range of activities, and ensuring that every child feels safe, connected, and happy to come to school each day.

This annual report is much more than a collection of data points; it is a testament to the dedication of our students, the commitment of our exceptional educators and staff, and the unwavering support of our engaged parents and community members. All members of our school community should feel proud of these results. The growth and accomplishments of our students are truly impressive.

Academic Performance: Proficiency Data

Our district continues to demonstrate strong performance in core academic areas. We measure success not only by overall content proficiency but also by the performance on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). This district's results show high levels of proficiency in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, with Science Achievement also showing a strong overall result.

English Language Arts (ELA):

• The district achieved an Overall Proficiency of 87.9%
• The percentage of students scoring IAR Proficient or Above Proficient is slightly higher at 88.4%.

This indicates a very high percentage of students are meeting or exceeding the state standards for ELA. Here is a comparison of our performance against the state average IAR proficiency rate of 53.1%

Mathematics:

• The district's Overall Proficiency in Mathematics stands at 81.4%
• The IAR Proficient or Above Proficient rate is 81.9%

Science Achievement:

• Students in grades 5 and 8 take the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA), which measures how well they understand core ideas in life, physical, and Earth and space sciences. The ISA is based on state science standards and asks students to apply what they’ve learned through critical thinking and problem-solving. The results help schools understand how students are developing scientific knowledge and skills over time.
• The district reports an Overall Proficiency rate of 73.2% for Science Achievement. The state average was 43%.

The continued high proficiency rates in ELA and Mathematics are a powerful indicator that our curriculum, instructional strategies, and targeted interventions are producing strong, measurable results. Our students are demonstrating the critical thinking, communication, and quantitative skills necessary for success in their future academic and professional lives.

A Closer Look at Academic Growth

While proficiency is key, the state's accountability system also places a critical emphasis on academic growth. This metric is particularly important as it reflects the progress individual students make over time, regardless of their starting point.

How ISBE Calculates Academic Growth:

Academic Growth is measured using the Student Growth Percentile (SGP). This metric compares a student's current year assessment score to the scores of other students across the state who had similar testing histories (i.e., academic peers).

• A student with a 50 SGP is considered to have made a year’s typical growth compared to their peers.

• A student with an SGP above 50 is making faster growth than their peers.

We are extremely proud to report that FSD 157-C is demonstrating significantly accelerated growth across both ELA and Mathematics:

These growth figures are a testament to the personalized approach our teachers take to meet students exactly where they are. A growth percentile of 61.8 in ELA and 61 in Math means that, on average, a student in District 157-C is making more than a year’s worth of progress when compared to their academic peers statewide.

District Climate Analysis

Also important to the district's educational landscape is the school climate—the heart of the learning experience for every student. Beyond academic focus, we deeply value the environment in which our students learn and grow. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides valuable feedback from our students, teachers, and parents, offering a comprehensive look at the conditions essential for school success.

In examining the five essential categories assessed—Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environment, and Ambitious Instruction—there is a picture of general strength and continuous growth in our three schools. For instance, we consistently found strong ratings in creating a supportive environment where students feel safe and connected, and in fostering involved families who are active partners in their child's education. Our teachers were rated high in their efforts to deliver ambitious Instruction, and our school leaders were identified as cultivating positive learning spaces.

While each school has its unique strengths, the data helps us identify areas where we can further enhance our practices across the district. For example, ensuring consistent, robust collaboration among our teachers and leaders, and deepening our instructional strategies, remain ongoing priorities.

🔗 Quick Reference: Individual School Data

For families interested in reviewing the full, detailed results from the 2024-2025 Illinois 5Essentials Survey for each school, please use the links below:

Summative Designations:

The Illinois State Board of Education assigns a Summative Designation to every school, which acts as a single, comprehensive reflection of its overall success across all key accountability measures—including student proficiency, academic growth, and school climate.

We are incredibly proud to share that our schools have achieved top-tier recognition, reflecting the dedication of the entire school community. Chelsea Intermediate School and Hickory Creek Middle School both earned the highest designation of Exemplary. Grand Prairie Elementary School also earned the second highest designation of Commendable.

A Collective Achievement

These results reflect the collective effort of our entire school community. The hard work of our students, the support of families, and the dedication of our teachers and staff all contribute to our strong achievement and growth..

We remain committed to using this data to drive continuous improvement. Rather than viewing these results as an endpoint, we use them to guide honest conversations about where we can keep getting better for our students.

Individual Student Results

On Monday, your child will bring home their individual results from the state assessment. These results provide an opportunity to review your child’s progress toward the Illinois Learning Standards and their achievement of grade-level benchmarks.

Report Card Presentation

At the November 18 regular Board of Education meeting, our administrative team will provide a detailed review of all indicators on the Illinois Report Card. This will include additional student and financial data related to the district's evaluation. For those unable to attend or listen to the meeting from home, I will provide the presentation in next month's newsletter.

Thank you for your continued support of Frankfort School District 157-C.

Sincerely,