Geneseo High School, Millikin Elementary, and Northside Elementary all received Exemplary status from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which released its annual Illinois Report Card for 2024-25 on Thursday.
The designation of Exemplary indicates that GHS, Millikin and Northside rank in the top 10% of public schools in Illinois. Geneseo Middle School and Southwest Elementary achieved a designation of Commendable, which is the second highest rating.
“We are incredibly proud of our students, staff and families for the hard work that takes place every day in all of our buildings,” said Superintendent Dr. Laura Delgado. “That three of our schools earned Exemplary status is a reflection of the commitment our entire community makes to support education and foster an ongoing culture of excellence. All of our schools are doing amazing work and that is reflected in this year’s Report Card.”
The Illinois Report Card is the state’s official source for information about public schools across Illinois. Families, researchers, policy makers, and community members can use it to discover a wide range of school data on academic performance and progress, district environment, teachers, students, and more.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our schools and the people who make them special,” said Kane Causemaker, President of Geneseo’s Board of Education. “Providing strong, supportive learning environments for all students is so important, and the Illinois Report Card’s findings reflect the spirit of achievement, community and care that make Geneseo a wonderful place to live, learn and grow.”
A closer look at the Geneseo school district’s report card includes multiple key academic proficiency and growth rates that exceed state averages in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science.
Geneseo’s graduation rate held steady at 98%, nine percentage points above the statewide rate of 89%.
The district’s 9th Grade on Track figure – which indicates a student is meeting specific academic and attendance benchmarks at the end of their freshman year and on pace for high school graduation – is 98%, compared to the statewide figure of 89%.
Another important metric for academic progress is the percentage of Eighth Graders Passing Algebra I. Geneseo checks in at 59%, up from 46% a year ago, while Illinois statewide is at 31%.
“The data from the Illinois Report Card provides us with a compelling and insightful look at what is being achieved in our classrooms,” noted Dr. Delgado. “The increase in our math scores is very encouraging, as it validates the efforts of our Professional Learning Communities, collaborative leadership teams, coaches, and math interventionists.”
“Illinois students and educators continue to impress and achieve new milestones in academic success – from reaching a 15-year high in the graduation rate, to narrowing gaps between student groups, to increasing enrollment in college and career preparation coursework,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “The academic achievement data from the 2024-25 school year shows that Illinois has some of the best schools in the country and stands as a testament to the hard work and ambition of our students, the skill and dedication of our educators, and the support and partnership of parents and families across the state.”
Dr Sanders added, “These historic gains show that a focus on equity and evidence-based practices and strong investment in public schools yields positive outcomes for all students and communities. Illinois schools are not only preparing students to graduate but also to thrive in college, career, and life.”
Learn more and view Geneseo’s complete Illinois Report Card data at IllinoisReportCard.com.