October 30, 2023 -The 2023 Illinois Report Card released today shows improvement in DPS graduation rates and attendance rates, but work still needs to be done to improve academic proficiency.
Schools receive an annual summative designation on the Illinois Report Card, based on the school’s overall data, and the data for each student group, for all of the accountability indicators. According to the summative designations for each DPS school, only Johns Hill Magnet School saw improvement in designation. MacArthur and Eisenhower High Schools were unchanged with MacArthur receiving a commendable designation with no student groups underperforming on state testing. Eisenhower remained as targeted again in 2023 due to underperforming test scores from students with disabilities & low-income students. All other schools saw a decrease in designation over 2022 with all student groups underperforming on state testing.
DPS however did see improvement in attendance and graduation rates. 9th graders on track to graduate hit a 3-year high at 72.7%, up from 66.9% last year and 49.2% in 2021. Graduation rate were 72.8%, up from 69.8% last year. As for attendance and absenteeism, the attendance rate hit a 3-year high at 86.1%, up from 83.4% last year and 76.5% in 2021 and chronic absenteeism rate hit a 3-year low at 50.5%, down from 56.0% last year and 58.9% in 2021.
The teacher retention rate also hit an all-time high at 84.9%, up from 72.9% last year, 68.1% in 2021, 70.7% in 2020, 71.4% in 2019, 67.4% in 2018, and 67.4% in 2017 and teachers with a masters degree or higher was 41.1%, up from 40.4% last year.
DPS did do very well in Career and Technical Education (CTE). The 4-year graduation rate for students enrolled in CTE programs (DPS has 1,251 students enrolled in CTE programs) was 98.9%, above the state rate of 95.8%. In addition, the percentage of CTE students graduating having attained post-secondary credits in the relevant CTE program or program of study earned through a dual or concurrent enrollment or another credit transfer agreement was 44.8%, above the state rate of 38.0%.
“I am very pleased to see some of the progress we are making in our schools,” said Decatur Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark. “We know that there is still much work to be done to ensure our students have the supports they need in academics and social-emotional wellness. My staff and I continue to identify ways to meet those needs and address our challenges so that our students have every opportunity to reach their full potential and become productive citizens.”
DPS said in a statement that administrators recognize the need to improve accountability indicators, particularly when it comes to academic proficiency and performance. Efforts they say are aimed at increasing student proficiency include targeted recruitment efforts to fill teacher vacancies and reduce the number of long-term substitute teachers in classrooms district-wide and placing a teaching assistant in every Kindergarten through 2nd grade classroom.
DPS also stated the will institute specific leadership training for principals by attending conferences at Harvard University and that all teachers district-wide have been provided training on the new Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. MTSS is a framework that helps educators provide academic and behavioral strategies for students with various needs. DPS schools use this framework of interventions and supports to address behavioral and academic challenges and identify struggling students early so that they can get assistance quickly.
