Dear Cossitt Staff & Families,
Earlier today, Oct. 30, 2025, the Illinois State Board of Education released its 2025 Annual School Designation. As the formal communication (linked here) references:
The Every Student Succeeds Act requires all states to annually assess the performance of elementary and secondary public schools. These designations describe schools excelling across various academic and student success indicators and identify schools requiring support and improvement.
We wanted to formally share with our families that we received the designation of Exemplary.
While the formula utilized by the State is somewhat complicated, this designation is for those top 10% of Illinois schools that have demonstrated a measurable level of student growth from the 23-24 school year through the 24-25 school year in the areas of assessments, attendance, course and grade data, and climate survey participation.
Unlike previous iterations of school ratings/rankings, this model is designed to highlight those schools that continue to demonstrate ongoing student growth in the areas of Math and English Language Arts.
For schools like Cossitt that traditionally do well on formalized state tests, we are exceptionally proud of the fact that we are continuing to raise the bar each academic year. This is also demonstrated by the fact that in the 8 years that these designations have been assigned, Cossitt has received the Exemplary rating every year but one.
Having shared this phrase in a number of instances over my time here at Cossitt, it continues to ring true: Everything that rises must converge.
This designation is the result of that very special relationship between our amazing teachers and our dedicated families. For that, we are forever grateful.
Michael Michowski
Principal
Kelsey Brown
Assistant Principal