Joliet High Schools Boost Graduation Rates, Target Key Demographics

Joliet Township High School District 204 has announced significant improvements in graduation rates for its two high schools, Joliet West and Joliet Central, according to the recently released 2025 Illinois School Report Cards. The report, issued by the Illinois State Board of Education in October, evaluated schools based on critical metrics such as standardized testing, graduation rates, college readiness, and attendance across various student demographics.

While both schools maintained their designations from the previous year—Joliet West as commendable and Joliet Central as targeted—efforts are underway to address the needs of students with disabilities at Joliet Central. Superintendent Dr. Karla Guseman emphasized the district’s commitment to improving educational outcomes for this demographic, particularly focusing on English language learners and students in special education.

Joliet Central’s graduation rate stands at 80.8%, while Joliet West leads with a higher rate of 86.6%. Notably, Joliet Central experienced a substantial increase of over 5% from the previous year, compared to a more modest increase of just over 3% for Joliet West. The state average graduation rate is 87.7%.

Strategies for Improvement

To bolster support for special education students, the district plans to enhance its co-teaching model and introduce a new “consult model.” This strategy assigns special education tutors to work with students in regular classes. Tutors will either assist students during classroom instruction or provide targeted support outside the classroom, focusing on individual progress.

Guseman stated, “Our previous district rate was 79%, so that’s a pretty solid area of growth for one year, especially in a district this big. We’re excited to be trending in the right direction.” The district has made efforts over the past few years to increase graduation rates through expanded virtual tutoring options and recovery programs for students who fall behind on credits.

In addition to graduation statistics, Guseman highlighted the success of students in Advanced Placement and Dual Credit programs, with JTHS students earning 3,811 college credit hours at institutions such as Joliet Junior College and the University of St. Francis. Students also took over 1,700 AP tests last year, achieving passing grades on 63% of them. Furthermore, JTHS students earned 474 certifications in various career and technical programs, including culinary arts and nursing.

Addressing Academic Challenges

Despite these accomplishments, the district faces challenges in standardized testing. Proficiency scores on the ACT in English Language Arts, math, and science fell below the state averages. Joliet West reported proficiency rates of 38.2% in English Language Arts, 27.8% in math, and 38% in science, while Joliet Central’s rates were 27.7%, 18.5%, and 26.9%, respectively. The state averages are 52.4% in English Language Arts, 38.4% in math, and 44.8% in science.

Guseman noted that the recent switch from the SAT to the ACT created new benchmarks for proficiency, which presents unique challenges for a district with a significant population of English learners. “In Illinois at the high school level, the tests are only provided in English,” she remarked. “This is a problem for districts like JTHS with a higher than average non-English speaking population.”

At Joliet Central, 32.3% of students are classified as English learners, compared to 17.8% at Joliet West. Guseman expressed concern over the evaluation system that requires students to take assessments in a language they may struggle to understand. “It lowers the overall proficiency score, and it’s an unfair expectation to put on those students,” she said.

Despite these hurdles, the district remains committed to fostering improvement. “We are a great district, and we are committed to improvement year over year,” Guseman concluded. “I believe the data shows that work has been impactful so far. We’re committed to ensuring we maximize every student’s growth while they’re with us.”