PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Public Schools saw a mixed bag in state ratings during the 2018-2019 school year.
State report card data released Wednesday showed Calvin Coolidge Middle School improved to underperforming, up from lowest performing.
Whittier and Thomas Jefferson Primary Schools saw a jump to commendable from lowest performing, while Kellar Primary was designated an exemplary school, the only school in the district that earned that distinction.
“We had a number of schools like Northmoor that were very close to exemplary,” said PPS Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat.
“I wouldn’t be surprised next year if they earn that designation.”
Kherat explained the new state report card methodology for schools with students in preschool through eight grade is based on eight indicators: English language arts growth, math growth, English language arts proficiency, math proficiency, science proficiency, English learner progress to proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and climate survey.
High schools are evaluated based on the same indicators, except the growth categories are replaced with graduation rate and ninth graders on track to graduate.
Manual and Peoria High Schools received lowest performing designations because of their graduation rates; 58% and 64%, respectively.
Any high school in the state with a graduation rate of 67% or less is automatically considered lowest performing.
Kherat pointed to the $7 million in funding from the Full Service Community Grant, Lights On, Peoria, and 21st Century program as the keys to remedying those rates.
“There’ll be career coaches, different supports for those students on an individualized basis, we’ll really work with them to assist in reimagined learning, focus more on work-based learning, and just put a plan together around their passions and interests,” she said.
“The traditional programming needs to change. Instead of saying everybody gets four years of math and you have to do biology, chemistry, physics, and so forth, that doesn’t necessarily bode well for everyone.
“College is not for everyone, but there is definitely something for everyone.”
Other schools falling into the lowest performing category were Franklin Primary, Glen Oak Community Learning Center, Lincoln, Roosevelt Magnet, and Trewyn Primary.
Richwoods High School received a commendable designation.
