Springfield
The Poverty Gap Is Closing: Economically Disadvantaged Students Gained 5.4 Points
Economically disadvantaged students in Illinois are graduating at 83.7%, up from 78.3% in 2019. The 5.4-point gain outpaced the overall state improvement of 2.8 points, narrowing the poverty gap from ...
Four Illinois Urban Districts Remained Above 40%
Correction (July 21, 2026): The original article said Springfield hovered near 40% for nearly the full series even though it reached 57.6% in 2021-22. It also characterized Decatur's post-peak improve...
97% of Illinois Districts Have Not Recovered to Pre-COVID Attendance Levels
Of 822 Illinois districts with comparable attendance data before and after the pandemic, exactly 23 have returned to their pre-COVID chronic absenteeism rates. That is 2.8%. Three years after the 2021...