Joliet Schools Celebrate Grad Rate Gains, Address Disability Gaps

Joliet Township High School District 204 has announced significant improvements in graduation rates for the 2025 academic year, according to the latest Illinois School Report Cards. Both Joliet West and Joliet Central high schools demonstrated advancements, although challenges remain, particularly for students with disabilities at Joliet Central.

The Illinois State Board of Education released the annual school report cards in October, evaluating schools based on critical metrics such as standardized test performance, graduation rates, college readiness, and overall attendance across diverse student demographics. Schools are categorized into rankings that range from comprehensive to exemplary, with the top 10% receiving an exemplary designation and the bottom 5% categorized as comprehensive.

While neither Joliet West nor Joliet Central changed their designations from the previous year—Joliet West remains commendable and Joliet Central continues to be classified as targeted—there is a clear focus on enhancing outcomes for students with disabilities. Dr. Karla Guseman, Superintendent of District 204, stated, “We’re really focused on Central, especially on achievement for English language learners and special education, and looking for ways to support those learners more.”

Strategies for Improvement

To address the needs of special education students, the district plans to strengthen its co-teaching model and implement a new consultative approach. This model will assign special education tutors to work with individual students in regular classes, allowing for tailored assistance either during class or in small group settings outside of class. Currently, this initiative is being rolled out for freshmen and sophomores, with an aim to expand it across all grade levels in the future.

Graduation rates have become a point of pride for the district, accounting for half of a school’s evaluation. Guseman highlighted that both schools saw notable improvements in their graduation rates over the past year. Joliet West achieved a graduation rate of 86.6%, while Joliet Central reported 80.8%. Importantly, Joliet Central experienced a more than 5% increase in its graduation rate, compared to a 3% rise at Joliet West. The state average graduation rate stands at 87.7%.

“Our previous district rate was 79%, so that’s a pretty solid area of growth for one year, especially in a district this big,” Guseman remarked. “We’re excited to be trending in the right direction.” The district has made concerted efforts to boost graduation rates through expanded virtual tutoring options and recovery programs for students falling behind.

College and Career Readiness

Beyond graduation rates, the district has also focused on college readiness. Guseman reported that Joliet Township High School students earned 3,811 college credit hours through partnerships with local institutions such as Joliet Junior College and the University of St. Francis during the 2024-2025 academic year. Additionally, over 1,700 Advanced Placement (AP) tests were taken, with a passing rate of 63%.

In vocational education, students achieved 474 certifications in various career and technical programs, including culinary arts, cosmetology, and nursing. These accomplishments reflect the district’s commitment to preparing students for both college and careers.

Despite these successes, Joliet District 204 faces challenges in standardized testing performance. The ACT proficiency scores in English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science fell below state averages. Joliet West’s proficiency rates were 38.2% in ELA, 27.8% in math, and 38% in science, while Joliet Central reported 27.7%, 18.5%, and 26.9%, respectively. The state averages are 52.4% in ELA, 38.4% in math, and 44.8% in science.

Guseman emphasized the need to consider the unique challenges posed by the district’s demographic makeup, particularly regarding language barriers. “I think it’s important to remember that in Illinois at the high school level, the tests are only provided in English,” she explained. “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, while Joliet West has 17.8% in that demographic. Guseman noted that while schools must have at least 95% of their students take the assessment, this requirement can lead to lower overall proficiency scores for those who cannot read the test.

Despite these challenges, Guseman remains optimistic about the district’s trajectory. “We are a great district, and we are committed to improvement year over year,” she stated. “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.”