On October 30, it was announced that all five schools in North Palos School District 117 have received the "Exemplary" designation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)—the highest performance level awarded by the state—alongside prestigious top rankings from national education evaluators.
The Illinois State Board of Education evaluates public schools annually across Illinois based on a range of core academic indicators, elevating indicators, and student group performance. Based on this data, ISBE assigns one of five summative designations: Exemplary, Approaching Exemplary, Commendable, Developing, or Comprehensive to each school. Achieving Exemplary status places each District 117 school within the top tier of performance statewide across measured indicators.
"This achievement is a direct reflection of the value our community places on education," said NPD117 Superintendent Dr. Christine Droba. "In North Palos, our students, parents, and staff work hand-in-hand to reach our goals. While we are incredibly proud of this recognition, the true celebration is what it represents: our students are growing, thriving, and receiving the high-quality education they deserve."
In addition to state honors, North Palos School District 117 schools received national recognition from U.S. News & World Report. Out of 2,659 middle schools evaluated across Illinois, Conrady Junior High School was named the 16th highest-ranked middle school in the state. Among 3,561 elementary schools statewide, Glen Oaks Elementary ranked 37th and Oak Ridge Elementary ranked 74th.
Education research website Niche also highlighted District 117 in its latest ratings, naming Conrady the #1 "Standout Middle School" in Illinois. Oak Ridge and Glen Oaks were recognized as the #4 and #6 "Standout Elementary Schools" in the state, respectively.
Earlier this year, North Palos School District 117 was recognized as a Model PLC at Work School District—a distinction held by only six other districts across Illinois. This recognition highlights NPD117’s collaborative Professional Learning Community (PLC) process, which enables educators to deeply understand student needs and deliver tailored instruction so every child can grow. The Exemplary designations awarded by ISBE reinforce the fact that the PLC process is working as designed.
"Earning the Exemplary designation across every single school proves that our Professional Learning Community model isn't just a process—it’s a philosophy that delivers real results for students,” said Dr. Droba. “When our teams collaborate, analyze growth, and tailor instruction to every child's needs, remarkable things happen. I could not be prouder of our educators and support staff who bring this work to life every day."