Dear Cicero District 99 Community,

On Thursday, Oct. 30, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released its 2024 Illinois Report Card at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?districtId=06016099002. This annual report provides a comprehensive look at each school’s progress in academics, student success, school culture and climate, and financial investments.

District 99 is proud of our students’ growth and continues to analyze ways to enhance learning outcomes for all.

One key feature of the report card is the annual summative designation — a federally required descriptor based on eight indicators of academic performance that shows how well each Illinois school meets the needs of its students.

We are pleased to report that in the 2025 Report Card, 12 schools received the commendable designation from ISBE. To earn this designation, schools must not have any student groups underperforming below the “all students” group of the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools, and performance must not rank in the top 10 percent statewide.

Cicero District 99 schools with the commendable designation for the 2024-2025 school year include:

• Abraham Lincoln Elementary School (PK-6)

• Cicero East Elementary School (4-6)

• Cicero West Elementary School (PK-3)

• Columbus East Elementary School (4-6)

• Columbus West Elementary School (PK-3)

• Daniel Burnham Elementary School (K-2)

• Drexel Elementary School (K-6)

• Liberty Elementary School (PK-3)

• Sherlock Elementary School (PK-6)

• Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School (3-6)

• Warren Park Elementary School (PK-6)

• Woodrow Wilson Elementary School (K-6)

Two Cicero District 99 schools received the “targeted support” designation, which applies when a school performs well overall but has one student group performing at or below the “all students” group of the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools. Targeted schools receive a federal grant and participate in a four-year improvement cycle. The following schools received this designation for the 2024-2025 year:

• Goodwin Elementary School (PK-6)

• Unity Junior High School (7-8) 

The ISBE Report Card also highlights District gains in both reading and math, reflecting investments in Strategic Plan goals, including the shift to structured literacy focused on foundational reading, enhanced math instruction, and robust teacher support through professional development.

Chronic absenteeism remains a focus area for improvement. We are proud to inform you that we had a 6% increase in our attendance from 2024 to 2025 and we hope to continue to increase this daily. By increasing attendance across all grade levels and student groups, District 99 can improve its overall designations districtwide, ensuring students maximize daily learning opportunities.

“Our teachers and staff are incredibly hardworking, and we are proud of our students, staff and community as we move forward together to improve student outcomes,” said Dr. Aldo Calderin, superintendent. 

To view the complete Illinois Report Card for Cicero District 99, visit
https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?districtId=06016099002