Lake Bluff Schools Earn Top Two State Ratings as Route 65 Reaches Its Three-Year Mark
Lake Bluff Elementary School earned an Exemplary designation, the highest of five ratings, on the 2026 Illinois Report Card released Oct. 30 by the Illinois State Board of Education. Lake Bluff Middle School earned Approaching Exemplary, the second-highest rating.
The results come as District 65 marks three years of Route 65, the strategic plan the Lake Bluff community helped create in 2023, and shares its first Three-Year Progress Report.
“There’s so much to celebrate this year, and I couldn’t be prouder of our students, staff and families,” said Superintendent Dr. Lisa Leali.
This is the first year of Illinois’ new school rating system, which uses new labels and criteria, so this year’s designations can’t be compared directly with past years.
More students meeting state standards
On the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), the state test for students in grades 3-8, more Lake Bluff students met or exceeded state standards this year than last:
English language arts: 80%, up from 76%
Math: 65%, up from 61%
The district’s goal is for more than 80% of students to meet or exceed state standards in both subjects. Lake Bluff has reached that mark in English language arts and is working to move past it. In math, nearly two in three students meet state standards today, and closing that gap is a top priority.
Another way we measure growth
The state test shows how students perform at one point in the year. To see how each student grows over time, District 65 also uses its own measure. A student counts as successful if they meet state standards on the IAR, reach growth or proficiency goals on the MAP assessment, or meet their annual IEP or English language proficiency goals. This year, 93% of students met that measure in English language arts and 88% in math.
Three years of Route 65
The Three-Year Progress Report looks back on the district’s five Landmark Goals. Highlights include:
Student Achievement: 11 multilingual learners reached English proficiency and exited language services this year, up from three in 2023-24.
Staff and Educator Excellence: Staff retention has stayed above 92% for three straight years, and paraprofessional Nic Schlichting was named 2026 Lake County Educator of the Year.
Community Partnerships: 237 community members joined summer book clubs over three years, and the district added a new website, a monthly newsletter, Lattes with Leali and community town halls.
Fiscal Responsibility: The district holds a AAA bond rating, the highest possible. The Association of School Business Officials and the Government Finance Officers Association have recognized its financial reporting for excellence every year since 2017.
Learning Environment: New electronic door locks are in place districtwide, along with Stop the Bleed kits and safety backpacks, and a learning-first, technology-second approach guides how students use devices.
A community conversation
On Oct. 27, families and staff joined Dr. Leali and district leaders for a community town hall on Route 65. Community members sent in questions ahead of time, and the evening gave everyone a chance to hear about the district’s progress firsthand. Thank you to everyone who took part. The presentation and recording are available below.
What comes next
This year, District 65 is building on that momentum with:
A continued focus on math, where we see the most room to grow
Two new Teaching and Learning Specialists who work alongside teachers
The CKLA literacy curriculum in kindergarten through fourth grade
A redesigned elementary report card for families