District 204 sees test scores climb as 23 schools earn top state rating

Indian Prairie School District 204 moved further ahead of statewide benchmarks in the 2026 Illinois Report Card, with 23 of its 34 schools earning the state's highest designation of Exemplary. The results mark a shift in how the district measures success, as the new Profiles of Performance framework evaluates schools against fixed standards rather than ranking them against one another.

The financial and operational data behind the grades show a district tightening its administrative controls. Consistent student attendance rose to 94.4% in 2026, up from 93.8% the previous year. The district achieved this gain by eliminating non-school vacation attendance codes and distributing quarterly updates to families. Staff stability also improved, with more than 83% of teachers holding advanced degrees. Superintendent Dr. John Price attributed the results to the dedication of staff and students, stating that the district remains a leader in Illinois.

English Language Learner performance emerged as a primary driver of the district's high scores. The new accountability system includes Elevating Indicators, which reward growth in areas like EL progress and climate surveys. District 204 posted strong gains in EL proficiency across listening, speaking, reading, and writing on the ACCESS assessment. Laurie Donahue, President of the Board of Education, said the board is proud of the equity work reflected in these outcomes. She noted that the new framework aligns with the district's goal of providing tailored support to every student regardless of background.

Academic metrics in core subjects showed measurable increases compared to the 2025 baseline. English Language Arts proficiency rose to 74.3%, up from 71.5%. Science proficiency jumped to 71.4%, an increase from 65.6%. High school ACT proficiency in ELA climbed to 77.2% from 76.6%. Enrollment in eighth-grade algebra expanded to 54.1% from 50.4%. Math proficiency remained stable at 62.6%, a slight increase from 62.4% in 2025.

The district plans to use the 2026-27 school year to address specific academic gaps. It will expand its Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to target ELA and math remediation. Administrators will also deploy interactive data dashboards to give teachers real-time insights into student performance. The district is in the final year of its current strategic plan and will begin community engagement for the next multi-year framework.

The full report card is available to the public at IllinoisReportCard.com. The data confirms that the district's investment in staffing and attendance tracking produced higher test scores and broader access to advanced coursework during the 2025-26 school year.