School Ratings Shake-Up: Evanston-Skokie District 65 Faces Changes

Rating Drops for Two Schools

Evanston-Skokie District 65 recently received mixed news with the release of the 2025 Illinois Report Card. Two schools, Kingsley Elementary and Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, saw their ratings drop from "commendable" to "targeted."

This shift reflects changes in how student performance is measured, not necessarily a decline in actual learning.

Challenges Ahead

The drop in ratings comes at a tricky time for the district. Dr. Bessie Rhodes School is set to close permanently at the end of this school year. Additionally, there are rumors that Kingsley and Lincolnwood Elementary might also face closure.

Changes in Evaluation Criteria

This year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) tweaked how it evaluates standardized test scores. For instance, the score needed for proficiency in math dropped slightly.

While some see this as a way to better track progress, others argue it lowers the bar for student achievement.

Superintendent Angel Turner clarified that the learning standards themselves haven't changed, only how the results are reported.

Positive Developments

Despite the rating drops, there's good news too.

Twelve District 65 schools still hold a "commendable" rating.
Orrington Elementary kept its top "exemplary" status.
The district is doing well in English, math, and science compared to state averages.
83.6% of D65 eighth-graders passed algebra, way higher than the state average of 30.8%.

Improvements in Attendance and Safety

The district also saw improvements in student attendance and safety.

Chronic absenteeism dropped from 18.9% to 17.2%.
Student surveys showed that most feel safe and respected at school.

Enrollment Concerns

However, enrollment has been a concern, with a 23.87% drop since 2018.

Bigger Issues in Education

The rating changes and potential school closures highlight bigger issues in education.

Are these shifts in ratings due to real academic struggles, or are they just a result of changes in how performance is measured?

Either way, it's clear that the district has both challenges and successes to consider as it moves forward.