Chronic absenteeism in Elgin Area School District U-46 has dropped from 38% to 24% in just one year, a turnaround administrators say is fueling gains across several academic measures.
District leaders reported the sharp decline during a board of education meeting on Nov. 3, crediting new student-engagement strategies for the improvement.
Attendance improves across the district
Deputy Superintendent Lela Mastrovich said district leaders are encouraged by the shift and credited new student-engagement strategies, such as advisory periods, restorative practices and school-wide recognition programs.
“These numbers show that students are returning and staying connected,” she said, adding that attendance is one of the clearest indicators of learning recovery since the pandemic.
Freshman and graduation rates hold steady
High-school data recently showed that 88.4% of freshmen are on track to graduate, the highest rate U-46 has seen in at least five years.
The district’s four-year graduation rate remains stable at 87.3%, continuing a steady upward trend. Administrators said both numbers reflect the work of freshman success teams, postsecondary success staff and early-warning systems that track grades and credit recovery.
Test scores reflect growth under new state standards
Assistant Superintendent Brian Tennyson explained that the Illinois State Board of Education adjusted its proficiency “cut scores” this year, making comparisons to earlier results difficult.
Under the new scale, 43% of students met proficiency in English Language Arts and 31.5% in math, an increase of nearly 10 points from the previous year.
Tennyson said the district plans to adopt a new elementary math curriculum later this year and will continue teacher training focused on high-impact classroom practices.
Early learning shows promise
For kindergarten through second grade, early-literacy and math data showed both progress and new challenges.
About one-third of kindergartners can identify 10 or more letter sounds in English or Spanish. However, attendance for younger grades dipped slightly and behavior referrals rose.
Mastrovich said those trends are being used to strengthen classroom routines, add social-emotional support and provide targeted professional learning for teachers.
College and career readiness expands
Officials noted record highs in Advanced Placement exam passes, unique students earning scores of three or higher and students receiving the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy.
This year, more than 3,800 students are enrolled in AP, IB or dual-credit courses, and roughly 6,600 are taking Career and Technical Education classes. District leaders said those numbers show students are pursuing multiple pathways to graduation and beyond.
Communication and community highlights
The board also recognized Nov. 15 as School Board Members Day and congratulated the district’s communications team for several statewide awards, including honors for photography, video production and writing.
Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson also celebrated Streamwood High School’s boys soccer team, which advanced to the state finals after winning its super-sectional match.
All information in this story was taken from the Elgin Area School District U-46 Board of Education meeting held on Nov. 3, as shown in the district’s YouTube video.
