Lake County Gazette

The Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education recently honored schools that held strong during the pandemic by either increasing their grade or staying level.

The commendations took place at a meeting on November 9, where area Superintendents Amanda Patti and Clarence Berry recognized principals in schools that received either “commendable” or "exemplary” levels of designation on the Illinois state report card. Exemplary level meant that they were in the top 10% of public schools in the state.

“We are very, very excited to honor and pay our congratulations to the principals of the schools,” Patti said, adding they did “wonderful work.”

The principals from the following elementary schools were all all awarded banners of their commendable designations: Glen Flora, Greenwood, Glenwood, Hyde Park, Little Fort, Washington, McCall, Carman-Buckner, Cooke Magnet, Clearview, Lyon, North, Whittier and Oakdale.  Waukegan High School's principal received a banner as well.

Three schools were given special recognition during the meeting, including Clark Elementary, which was the only school in the district with exemplary designation. Waukegan High School was praised for its commendable rating, which represents overcoming a struggle in past years. Carman-Buckner Elementary School also received accolades for its first commendable ranking, after being one of the lowest ranked schools over the past two decades.

“I want to thank all of our principals that you saw up here,” Board Vice President Rick Riddle said. “They’ve done a tremendous job, as you can see. receiving the second highest designation—so that is all of our elementary schools this past year, and the high school. So thank you principals and all the staff that you have, all the wonderful staff that has done such a tremendous job this past year.”