SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois public schools are showing signs of steady recovery and progress in the wake of the pandemic, according to the 2025 Illinois Report Card released Thursday.

The state’s graduation rate has reached a 15-year high, chronic absenteeism is declining, and more students are enrolling in advanced coursework and career training programs.

The four-year graduation rate climbed to 89%, with the most significant gains among students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), English learners, and low-income students. Ninth-grade students on track to graduate, a key predictor of future success, also rose, particularly among Black and Hispanic students.

“The academic achievement data from the 2024-25 school year shows that Illinois has some of the best schools i

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