Litchfield Schools Earn “Commendable” Ratings; High School Nears Top Tier

Litchfield CUSD 12 Meeting | November 18, 2025

Article Summary: A presentation on the annual State Report Card revealed that all schools in the Litchfield district achieved “Commendable” status. Litchfield High School narrowly missed the criteria for the state’s highest “Exemplary” rating, driven by a strong graduation rate.

State Report Card Key Points:

• District-Wide Status: All district buildings received a “Commendable” designation from the Illinois State Board of Education.

• High School Performance: Litchfield High School missed the “Exemplary” rating by only 2.45 points.

• Graduation Rate: The high school reported a 95.7% graduation rate, significantly higher than the state average of 89%.

• Areas for Improvement: Chronic absenteeism remains a concern across the district, though rates are currently below the state average.

Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 officials reviewed the district’s academic performance on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, highlighting that every school in the system achieved “Commendable” status on the annual Illinois State Report Card.

Jennifer Thompson, Director of Curriculum, presented the findings to the Board of Education. She noted that the state has unified its performance levels across different testing platforms, including the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and the ACT.

Thompson highlighted Litchfield High School’s performance, noting the building came within striking distance of the state’s top tier.

“They missed exemplary by 2.45 [points],” Thompson said. “That’s incredible. I mean so close.”

A significant factor in the high school’s success was its graduation rate. Thompson reported a four-year graduation rate of 95.7%, well above the state average of 89%. She indicated that upcoming changes to state guidelines will set the target graduation rate at 93%, positioning the high school well for future assessments.

In elementary and middle school grades, the district outperformed the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency by nearly 13%. Science scores were also strong, with eighth graders outperforming the state by 5.3%. Math scores, however, were slightly below the state average, prompting the district to work with a math consultant.

Thompson also addressed challenges, specifically chronic absenteeism and shifting demographics. The district’s low-income student population has risen to 60.3%, compared to a state average of around 50%. While the district’s chronic absenteeism rate is below the state average of 25.4%, officials acknowledged it remains an area requiring focus.

Enrollment figures presented during the meeting showed a total district enrollment of 1,268 students, a decrease of two students compared to the same time last year.