The State of Illinois does not have a formal system of rating school districts, although it does conduct evaluation visitations. District 7 receives highly positive comments during such visits and is a fully accredited system.
Excellence has always been the hallmark of the District 7 schools. There are many indicators that demonstrate a district’s level of achievement. Our commitment to academic excellence is aptly reflected in the district’s test scores. We have also been a downstate leader in the annual number of National Merit Scholars and in the performance of our academic teams.
Although such achievement is very important, a school system should be judged not just on test scores, but rather on how all children, whether gifted, average, or at risk, are given opportunities to grow and learn. Specific information about the district’s programs, as well as the most recent test scores, may be obtained at Hadley House.
In January 1996, Money Magazine listed District 7 among the Top 100 Schools in Towns You Can Afford. Money Magazine’s survey identified 100 top districts within 45 minutes of the nation’s 80 most populous metropolitan areas.
We recognize that a public school district must set the standard for community involvement, and it must prepare our children to live and work in an ever-changing global society. We believe that we do our best work when we draw upon the wealth of talent within our District 7 community of learners.
We expect high quality, experiential academics, performing arts, and athletic programs to exist throughout the school district. We expect that our students will be offered numerous quality programs that provide them with opportunities to learn and grow through the exploration and application of ideas.
We remain committed to hiring and developing quality educators and staff who embrace ongoing professional development that inspires them to attain deeper and enhanced knowledge of the content they are expected to teach to our students. And as a result of this commitment, our students will be offered a rich K-12 school environment that is the norm rather than the exception.
We are fortunate to have educators who are dedicated to the ideal of student-centered education. This is reflected in their own pursuit of excellence, their embrace of innovation, and the regard in which they are held by their colleagues throughout the region and the state.