Rochelle Township High School: A Look at Recent Achievements and Plans

Rochelle Township High School has some good news to share. They got a "commendable" rating under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for the past year. This rating is one step below the highest rating, "exemplary. " The school's score was 86. 73, which is better than the previous two years. In 2024, it was 76. 70, and in 2023, it was 70. 37. The school looked at different things to give this score. These include how well students do in English, how often students miss school, how safe and happy students feel, and how well they do in math and science. The school also looked at how well English language learners are progressing. One big improvement was the graduation rate. It went up from 85% to 93% in two years. Also, fewer students are missing a lot of school. Chronic absenteeism dropped from 33% to 17%. This means fewer students are missing 10% or more of the school year. The school board also talked about money. They approved a 4. 99% increase in the tax levy for 2026. This increase is below 5%, so they didn't need a special hearing. The extra money will help pay for updates to school buildings. They also want to get as much special education money as possible because those costs are going up a lot. The school is also applying for a grant to update their old fire alarm system. If they get the grant, they plan to replace the system this summer. It's a 21-year-old system that needs upgrades. They are also looking into solar power. The facilities committee is talking to solar power companies about putting solar panels on school property. They want to see if it makes sense for the school and will keep working on it in the coming months. Lastly, the school board approved some staff changes. Joseph Howard, a special education teacher, will be leaving at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Jennifer Beck will be joining as a bus aide.