Grundy County educators weigh in on school report card results

School officials across Grundy County have mostly positive reactions to the results from the recently released 2026 Illinois Report Card. Most of the dozen districts across the county performed at or above state averages in several metrics, including English language arts and math proficiency.Data from the Illinois State Board of Education, the agency overseeing the report cards, indicates student performance continues to improve in year-over-year comparisons.The statewide average for math proficiency rose from 38.4% to 39.2%. Overall ELA proficiency scores improved from 52.4% to 55.4%.Other metrics — such as science proficiency, student graduation rates and chronic absenteeism — also rose in comparison to prior years.The ISBE continues to give individual schools and districts designations based on student performance. The exemplary schools label is at the top, followed by approaching exemplary schools, commendable schools, developing schools, comprehensive schools and, at the low end,