North Palos School District 117 is celebrating a wave of outstanding academic achievements, securing some of the highest performance ratings in the state and earning top marks from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The annual ratings released by ISBE place four of District 117's five schools in the top tier, earning the coveted Exemplary designation. These ratings are the Illinois State Board of Education's highest mark, reflecting superior student achievement and growth.
The official ratings for the district's schools are:
- Conrady Jr. High School: Exemplary
- Dorn Elementary School: Commendable
- Glen Oaks Elementary School: Exemplary
- Oak Ridge Elementary School: Exemplary
- Sorrick Elementary School: Exemplary
"These ratings are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, the expertise of our staff, and the unwavering support provided by families at home," Superintendent, Dr. Christine Droba commented. When comparing the academic achievement and growth data of North Palos 117 to all other elementary school districts in Illinois, the results firmly place it among the state's highest-performing districts.
The data highlights NPD117’s place among other districts in the state of Illinois:
- English Language Arts Proficiency: Top 2% of the state
- Mathematics Proficiency: Top 3% of the state
- English Language Arts Growth: Top 4% of the state
- Mathematics Growth: Top 3% of the state
Further validating the quality of the district's schools, the latest Chicago Magazine ranking, "Best Public Elementaries and Junior Highs in the Suburbs" (September 2025 issue), highlighted three North Palos School District 117 schools for their outstanding performance: Conrady Jr. High, Glen Oaks School, and Oak Ridge School. All of these schools have individually been awarded with a Blue Ribbon School recognition in the past 3 years (Oak Ridge - 2023; Conrady - 2024; Glen Oaks - 2025). This recognition confirms that North Palos District 117 schools are truly among the best in the region, offering exemplary teaching and learning environments.
At the NPD117 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, November 20, the district also took the opportunity to celebrate the crucial work at Dorn and Sorrick Elementary Schools. While these schools were not eligible for the magazine's ranking (as students at those grade levels do not take the state assessment used in the methodology), officials emphasized the importance of their foundation. Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Kevin Buscemi, stressed that, “These results are truly a team effort”, and thanked everyone for the role that they play in this recognition.