WHEELING, IL — Six District 21 schools earned the state's highest designation in the 2026 Illinois Report Card, with Cooper Middle School and five elementary schools receiving Exemplary ratings.
Kilmer, Longfellow, Poe, Riley and Tarkington elementary schools also received the top designation, according to a district announcement Friday.
The ratings come under Illinois' newly redesigned school accountability system, which evaluates performance through multiple measures, including student achievement, academic growth and school conditions.
"We are proud to see six of our schools earn the state's highest designation, and we congratulate the students, staff and families who contribute to their success," Superintendent Michael Connolly said in the announcement.
"These report cards offer one way to measure school performance, but they represent only part of the picture. Our focus remains on maximizing the achievement and honoring the uniqueness of every student, every day, while continuing to identify opportunities to help all of our students grow."
Three other district schools received Approaching Exemplary designations, while three were rated Commendable.
The district's school-level designations are:
Exemplary
Approaching Exemplary
Commendable
Hawthorne Early Childhood School does not receive an annual designation because it is classified as an early childhood school.
The Illinois Report Card provides information about academic proficiency, student growth, English learner progress, consistent attendance and school climate.
This year's revised accountability system expands the number of designation categories from four to five: Exemplary, Approaching Exemplary, Commendable, Developing and Comprehensive.
According to the district, the updated system evaluates schools against established criteria rather than relying solely on comparisons with other schools. Changes in a school's designation should be viewed within the context of that revised methodology.
"These designations allow us to celebrate the work happening across our schools while continuing to look closely at how we can support every learner," Deputy Superintendent Beatrice Reyes Childress said in the release.
"Each school community brings unique strengths to our district, and we remain committed to using data, collaboration and thoughtful planning to help all students reach their full potential."
District 21 serves more than 6,000 students across 13 schools in Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights and Northbrook.
Detailed school-level results are available on the Illinois Report Card website.
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