Several area schools fared very well in the recently-released annual ranking by U.S. News & World Report of the top elementary schools in Illinois.Especially impressive was Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181, which placed three of its seven elementary schools in the top 10 and all seven of its schools among the top 34.There were a total of 1,953 Illinois elementary schools ranked. Middle schools and high schools were ranked separately.Oak School in Hinsdale took the No. 2 spot in the state, only behind Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center of the Chicago Public Schools.Other District 181 schools among the top 10 were Elm in Burr Ridge at No. 6 and The Lane in Hinsdale at No. 8. Additionally, district 181 schools ranked high were Prospect in Clarendon Hills, No. 15; Walker in Clarendon Hills, No. 16; Madison in Hinsdale, No. 21; and Monroe in Hinsdale, No. 34.Other area schools included in the top 10 were Brook Forest of Butler Elementary District 53 in Oak Brook at No. 5 and Forest Hills of Western Springs District 101 tabbed at No. 7.Additional area schools cracking the top 100 were Highlands of La Grange Highlands District 106, No. 36; Hawthorne of Elmhurst District 205, No. 46; Field Park of Western Springs District 101, No. 54; Lincoln of Elmhurst District 205, No. 72; Cosset Avenue of La Grange District 102, No. 78; John Laidlaw of Western Springs District 101, No. 89; Seventh Avenue of La Grange District 105, No. 90; Pleasantdale of Pleasantdale District 107, No. 96; and Field of Elmhurst District 205, No. 100.In District 181, Superintendent Hector Garcia was very proud and excited when he first learned of the showing in the school rankings.
“This recognition, coupled with our consistent performance across various ranking systems, reflects our commitment to providing an exceptional education for every student and being a premier institution,” he said.Jeffrey Alstadt, District 181’s director of communications, said while incredibly proud of the performance in the rankings, district officials were not surprised.“Our commitment to excellence, coupled with the dedication of our staff, students, and community, has consistently yielded exceptional results over the last few years,” he said. “D181’s success is a result of a multifaceted approach to education that is founded on best practices. Over the years, we have shifted to becoming a school district that is keenly focused on student data, outstanding instruction, and a commitment to operating as a professional learning community that ensures that all of our buildings offer an amazing education.“Additionally, our school board is very supportive of the work of our administrative team as we constantly look for more ways to improve student learning.”Sometimes, a strong showing, as District 181 did in the U.S. News & World Report latest rankings, can create pressure to meet that standard in the future. However, Alstadt said he doesn’t believe that is the case for District 181.“While this recognition is certainly an honor, it doesn’t create pressure since it actually validates our efforts and the belief that we have some of the best educators and leaders in the state of Illinois,” he said. “We are confident that our foundational philosophy and practices will continue to produce outstanding results.”Western Springs District 101 Superintendent Sarah Coffey said it’s an honor to have its three elementary schools recognized in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for Illinois.“We were thrilled to learn (of the rankings),” she said. “These rankings reflect the dedication of our talented staff, hardworking students, and supportive community.“This recognition underscores the strength of our district’s commitment to excellence and the collaborative effort to ensure every student thrives. We are proud of this accomplishment and will continue working to help our students achieve their highest potential.
Schools were ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school, according to information from U.S. News & World Report.Schools were assessed on their shares of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. The top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.
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“This recognition, coupled with our consistent performance across various ranking systems, reflects our commitment to providing an exceptional education for every student and being a premier institution,” he said.Jeffrey Alstadt, District 181’s director of communications, said while incredibly proud of the performance in the rankings, district officials were not surprised.“Our commitment to excellence, coupled with the dedication of our staff, students, and community, has consistently yielded exceptional results over the last few years,” he said. “D181’s success is a result of a multifaceted approach to education that is founded on best practices. Over the years, we have shifted to becoming a school district that is keenly focused on student data, outstanding instruction, and a commitment to operating as a professional learning community that ensures that all of our buildings offer an amazing education.“Additionally, our school board is very supportive of the work of our administrative team as we constantly look for more ways to improve student learning.”Sometimes, a strong showing, as District 181 did in the U.S. News & World Report latest rankings, can create pressure to meet that standard in the future. However, Alstadt said he doesn’t believe that is the case for District 181.“While this recognition is certainly an honor, it doesn’t create pressure since it actually validates our efforts and the belief that we have some of the best educators and leaders in the state of Illinois,” he said. “We are confident that our foundational philosophy and practices will continue to produce outstanding results.”Western Springs District 101 Superintendent Sarah Coffey said it’s an honor to have its three elementary schools recognized in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for Illinois.“We were thrilled to learn (of the rankings),” she said. “These rankings reflect the dedication of our talented staff, hardworking students, and supportive community.“This recognition underscores the strength of our district’s commitment to excellence and the collaborative effort to ensure every student thrives. We are proud of this accomplishment and will continue working to help our students achieve their highest potential.
Schools were ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school, according to information from U.S. News & World Report.Schools were assessed on their shares of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. The top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.
