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All Four SD113A Schools Earn Illinois' Highest Exemplary Rating

Posted Date: 10/30/26 (02:25 PM)
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4 schoolsAll Four Lemont-Bromberek CSD 113A Schools Earn Illinois' Highest Exemplary Rating 

Oakwood, River Valley, Central and OQMS sweep top state honors under Illinois' new 2026 accountability system while operating in the lowest 15% of per-pupil spending statewide.

LEMONT, IL - Every school in Lemont-Bromberek School District 113A has earned an official Exemplary Rating on the 2026 Profile of Performance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the highest overall performance designation in the state's newly launched accountability framework.

Introduced statewide in 2026, ISBE's new Profiles of Performance evaluate schools across five overall performance tiers, Exemplary, Approaching Exemplary, Commendable, Developing, and Comprehensive, by measuring three connected pillars: core academic indicators, elevating indicators that support student success, and equitable student group performance. 

"Earning an Exemplary rating in every single school across District 113A is a testament to the relentless dedication of our teachers and staff, the partnership of our parents, and the daily effort of our students," said Dr. Courtney Orzel, SD113A Superintendent. "Achieving Illinois' highest performance standard in all four of our schools while maintaining one of the lowest per-pupil spending among our comparable suburban peers proves that instructional excellence and responsible taxpayer stewardship can go hand in hand.”

Strong Results and Operational Efficiency: 

District 113A continues to demonstrate strong student outcomes while operating with significantly fewer financial resources than most Illinois school districts. SD113A ranks in the 15th percentile statewide for per-pupil operational spending, meaning approximately 85% of Illinois school districts spend more per student than SD113A.

  • Operational Spending Efficiency: District 113A spends $13,818 vs. the $20,978 Illinois average.

  • Focused Classroom Investment: Instructional spending is $8,061 vs. the $12,239 Illinois average. 

Across the 2025-2026 Illinois State Report Card, District 113A students ranked:

  • 93rd percentile statewide in Math

  • 89th percentile statewide in ELA

  • 88th percentile statewide in Science

IAR student growth percentiles reached the 86th percentile statewide in Math and the 85th percentile in ELA, while English Learner progress ranked in the 81st percentile statewide, and the District saw increases in student attendance as well as teacher retention rates. Additionally, the gap between SD113A’s average class size and the state average widened from 3.6 to 4.1 students more per classroom. These figures do not yet reflect the 40 additional students who have enrolled since the first day of school. 

“Student success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when dedicated educators, supportive families, and a community that values education work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed,” Dr. Orzel said. “Seeing all four of our schools earn Exemplary status alongside a top-tier family partnership is a proud milestone for our entire SD113A community.”