Summary:
The Summit School District 104 in Illinois serves students from 4 elementary schools and 1 middle school. The district faces challenges, with student performance significantly below state averages and high rates of chronic absenteeism across the schools.
A few schools stand out in the district. Walsh Elementary School has the highest overall performance, with 54% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 37.9% in Math in 2024-2025. Meanwhile, the small Dr. Donald Wharton Elementary School also demonstrates strong academic achievement, particularly in 3rd grade ELA and 5th grade science. These smaller schools tend to have lower student-teacher ratios and higher per-student spending compared to the larger campuses.
However, the district as a whole faces significant equity concerns, with high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch across all schools. Addressing chronic absenteeism and supporting the high-need student population should be priorities for the district. Examining best practices at the higher-performing schools could provide insights to improve outcomes district-wide.
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