New report card data released Thursday show more Bloomington-Normal public schools are flagged for certain underperforming student groups and fewer schools are in the Top 10% statewide, even as local students joined their statewide peers in showing academic gains.
Of McLean County’s 50 public schools, eight were deemed Exemplary (Top 10% school in Illinois) and 34 were deemed Commendable (no underperforming student groups), according to the 2025 Illinois School Report Cards. The number of schools labeled as Targeted (with one or more specific underperforming student group) grew from three to six across McLean County. Learn more about these Summative Designations.
The Targeted schools for 2025 are:
- Cedar Ridge Elementary, Bloomington – Targeted for white students, children with disabilities, English learners, and low-income students.
- Pepper Ridge Elementary, Bloomington - Children with disabilities.
- Sugar Creek Elementary, Normal - Black/African American students.
- Olympia South, Atlanta - Children with disabilities.
- Bent Elementary, Bloomington - Children with disabilities. Same as 2024.
- Fox Creek Elementary, Bloomington - Black/African American students, children with disabilities. In 2024, it was Targeted for English learners.
Sheridan Elementary in Bloomington, which enrolls the most low-income students (82.5%) of any school in McLean County, was again deemed Intensive, meaning it’s already gone through a school-improvement cycle but remains in the lowest-performing 5% of schools statewide. YouthBuild McLean County was again placed in Comprehensive, also in the lowest 5% of schools.
Unit 5's Oakdale Elementary in Normal improved to Commendable status, after being Targeted in 2024 (for children with disabilities).
Meanwhile, the State Board of Education is considering a redesign of its accountability measures. Normal Community High School will host a listening tour stop about these changes from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7.
Academic progress
Both Twin City school districts showed notable academic progress gains, according to Illinois Assessment of Readiness [IAR] scores, the state assessment and accountability measure.
In Unit 5, about 53.7% of students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, and 39.6% did so in math. Both of those are just ahead of the statewide IAR averages (53.1% and 38.5%) and reflect double-digit improvements from 2024.
In District 87, 37.5% of students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, and 24% did so in math. That also showed double-digit improvements from 2024.
These scores reflect a new scoring system the Illinois State Board of Education approved in August that established new benchmarks for proficiency. Statewide the change in scoring systems was expected to result in more students being classified as proficient in reading and math, but fewer in science. And that is what happened.
Graduation rate
Unit 5’s four-year graduation rate dipped slightly, to 88.5%, on par with the statewide average of 89%. District 87’s graduation rate, which officials are working to increase, ticked up to 76.5%.
The statewide rate of 89%, by the way, is a 15-year high.
Enrollment
Enrollment at Bloomington-Normal’s public schools is relatively flat this fall compared to 2024.
Unit 5 now has 12,219 students, down 1.1% from 2024. District 87 now has 4,699 students, up 1.9% from 2024.
Both districts have generally shrunk since the pandemic. Total enrollment between Unit 5 and District 87 is down 8.8%, or 1,640 students, compared with 2019.
Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.
