Lake County Gazette

Glen Oaks Elementary School was recognized as a 2025 Blue Ribbon School at a statewide event attended by Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Board of Education Chair Dr. Steven Isoye. The ceremony, held at Glen Oaks, honored the achievements of students, teachers, educational support staff, and the student services team. The event also acknowledged the contributions of Dorn Elementary in preparing students through first grade and highlighted the role of supportive parents and community members.

"This recognition event, which was hosted at Glen Oaks, celebrates the achievements of our amazing students, their love of learning, hard work, and school spirit. It celebrates our incredible Glen Oaks teachers, educational support colleagues, and student services team, and the entire team at Dorn Elementary, who prepare our students through first grade. This achievement is also a reflection of our supportive parents and community. Together, we have created a culture of excellence that ensures all students are reaching their full potential. This is the third Blue Ribbon recognition for Glen Oaks and the sixth for District 117."

During the event, Governor Pritzker announced a new statewide Blue Ribbon Schools program that will use criteria similar to those used by the National Blue Ribbon program. The federal program was discontinued earlier this year.

North Palos School District 117 includes Glen Oaks Elementary as well as Dorn Primary Center, Dr. Kenneth M. Sorrick School, H.H. Conrady Junior High School, and Oak Ridge Elementary School in Cook County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), North Palos School District 117 employs 198 teachers with an average salary of $58,644 before pension contributions; about 87 percent are women and nearly 13 percent are men; no teacher has more than ten absences per school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district's student population is approximately 73 percent White, five percent Black, fifteen percent Hispanic, and three percent Asian (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020 North Palos spent $18,504 per student for a total expenditure of nearly $63 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

"This recognition event...is also a reflection of our supportive parents and community," according to statements made during the ceremony.

Governor Pritzker stated that this is now the third time Glen Oaks has received Blue Ribbon status and marks six recognitions overall for District 117.