Woodridge School District 68 students scored well above state averages in reading, math and science on the 2026 Illinois Report Card, released Friday, Oct. 30.
Six of the district's seven schools earned an Exemplary designation, the highest performance level under the state's new accountability system. The seventh, Goodrich Elementary School, earned Approaching Exemplary, the second-highest level.
The schools rated Exemplary are Edgewood Elementary, John L. Sipley Elementary, Meadowview Elementary, William F. Murphy Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Junior High, according to a district announcement.
How the numbers compare
District 68's proficiency rates topped statewide figures across all three tested subjects:
Subject | District 68 | Statewide |
|---|---|---|
ELA proficiency | 72.7% | 55.4% |
Math proficiency | 53.1% | 39.2% |
Science achievement | 50.7% | 48.7% |
The district also posted student growth scores of 60.5 in ELA and 60.3 in math, compared with 50 statewide in both subjects.
That 72.7% ELA proficiency rate stands 17.3 percentage points above the state average, a calculated gap based on the district and state figures. The math gap is 13.9 percentage points.
New rating system changes the yardstick
The results arrive under a brand-new framework. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) replaced its previous weighted scoring system with an approach called Profiles of Performance.
Under the old system, an Exemplary designation meant a school ranked in the top 10% statewide. The new system evaluates schools against established criteria rather than against each other, the district said. Any school meeting those criteria can earn the top mark.
The district's announcement listed six performance levels: Exemplary, Approaching Exemplary, Commendable, Developing, Comprehensive and Automatic Comprehensive. Shaw Local reported the new system increased the number of categories from four to five. The two accounts describe the tier count differently.
Because the methodology changed, the district cautioned that this year's designations should not be directly compared with those from previous years.
Statewide gains provide backdrop
Across Illinois, proficiency rose in all three subjects, according to Shaw Local. Statewide ELA proficiency climbed from 52.4% in 2025 to 55.4% in 2026. Math inched up from 38.4% to 39.2%. Science showed the largest jump, rising from 44.6% to 48.7%.
State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said at a news conference that math remains an area where growth is needed. Illinois has developed its first statewide numeracy plan in response, Sanders said, according to Shaw Local.
The district said it will continue reviewing report card data and identifying areas for improvement. Families can explore Woodridge 68's results at illinoisreportcard.com.
