All 29 Plainfield District 202 schools earned a commendable designation this year — a first for the district and a sign, leaders said, that families can expect steadier academic growth as Illinois shifts to a new eight-tier rating system.
District officials said the designation reflects student support across academics, growth, attendance and school climate.
Illinois gives each school an annual “summative designation” based on multiple measures, including test scores, student growth, graduation rates for high schools, chronic absenteeism and 5Essentials climate survey results. The current system has five public-facing ratings: exemplary, commendable, targeted support, comprehensive support and intensive support.
For most schools, a commendable designation means there are no underperforming student groups and, for high schools, a graduation rate above 67 percent; the school is not in the top 10 percent statewide, but it is also not in the lowest 5 percent that receive more intensive state support, according to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
District officials noted that last year, Lincoln Elementary earned the top “exemplary” designation, Wesmere Elementary was identified for “targeted” support because of underperforming student groups, and all other eligible schools were rated commendable.
This year’s results mark the first time all 29 campuses have moved into the commendable band, which removes District 202 from the state’s targeted-support list but also means no school is currently rated exemplary, a tradeoff leaders described as overall progress for the district as a whole, according to Plainfield CCSD 202.
Students perform above state averages
According to the district’s annual performance review, students across all grade levels scored above the Illinois average in English language arts, math and science. Leaders said they aim not only to maintain that advantage but expand it over time.
While growth differs by grade, the overall trend shows continued academic momentum. Officials said they regularly review grade-level patterns and adjust instruction as needed.
More students taking advanced courses
District leaders reported steady interest in advanced academic participation. Plainfield continues an open-enrollment approach for AP, honors and dual-credit courses, allowing students to access rigorous options without restrictive entry requirements. More than half of the district’s freshmen take at least one advanced course.
Middle schools are exploring more acceleration options, including summer prep sessions that help students build confidence before taking higher-level coursework. Leaders said these opportunities encourage students to challenge themselves while receiving support.
English learner progress shows strong growth
The multilingual education team shared continued gains in the number of students exiting English learner services. They credited research-based programming, targeted professional development and consistent hiring of qualified EL educators.
Language development is embedded across the curriculum, including in career and technical education classes. In one example shared with the board, students read aloud, solved math problems and discussed technical concepts in an automotive course — an approach leaders said helps build meaningful communication and literacy skills.
Kindergarten redesign making an early impact
This fall, the district rolled out a redesigned kindergarten model. A key change placed full-time paraprofessionals in every classroom — a move staff called a game changer that gives teachers more time for routines, small-group instruction and behavior support.
The district also implemented a staggered start during the first week of school, allowing smaller groups of students to adjust to classroom expectations at a comfortable pace. Teachers used the early days to observe learning styles and social behaviors before the full class joined together.
Additional updates included guided recess to build cooperative skills and dedicated time for exploration-based learning. Leaders said these changes were informed by years of readiness data and direct collaboration with kindergarten teachers.
Community donations support student programs
District 202 received nearly $35,000 in community donations this fall from local foundations, PTOs, partner organizations and individual donors. Board members said the contributions fund programs and classroom materials that directly support students. They publicly thanked each group and emphasized the value of community partnerships.
Wilco students show stronger engagement
An update from the Wilco Area Career Center showed that Plainfield students are demonstrating stronger engagement and improved performance in career and technical programs. Staff said students appear more connected to their coursework, and recent trends are encouraging.
All information in this story was gathered from the PSD202 Committee Meeting on Nov. 12, and the PSD202 Board of Education Meeting on Nov. 19, as recorded in the publicly available meeting videos.
