Talala Elementary Designated “Comprehensive” as District Reviews Academic Performance

Crete-Monee School District 201-U Meeting | November 2025

Article Summary: The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education received the 2024-2025 Fall Academic Report, which highlighted a 92.2% graduation rate but revealed significant challenges in elementary school performance and chronic absenteeism.

Academic Report Key Points:

• School Designations: Talala Elementary received a “Comprehensive” designation (lowest tier), while Balmoral and Crete Elementary were designated “Targeted.”

• High School Success: CMHS and the Middle School both received “Commendable” designations, with a graduation rate of 92.2% and 93% of freshmen on track.

• Chronic Absenteeism: The district-wide chronic absenteeism rate stands at 34.7%, with Talala Elementary reporting a rate of 45.3%.

• Enrollment: Total district enrollment has trended upward to 4,486 students.

The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education reviewed a mix of successes and challenges during the Fall Academic Report presentation on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Ghantel Perkins presented data from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) School Report Card.

While the high school and middle school maintained “Commendable” statuses, the district’s elementary schools faced lower designations. Talala Elementary was designated as “Comprehensive,” a rating reserved for the lowest-performing 5% of schools in Illinois or those with low graduation rates. Balmoral and Crete Elementary schools were designated as “Targeted,” indicating that specific student groups are underperforming.

Coretta Scott King Magnet School and Monee Elementary both achieved “Commendable” status.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on chronic absenteeism. District-wide, 34.7% of students are chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year with or without a valid excuse. The rate was particularly high at Talala Elementary (45.3%) and the High School (41.2%).

“The learning lesson is that we have a large amount of students that are moving in and out of our district for various reasons,” Dr. Perkins said regarding student mobility, though she noted that low income was statistically a higher indicator of student success barriers than mobility.

Board members expressed concern regarding the elementary designations and class sizes. Board Member William Sawallisch noted the disparity in class sizes, with Talala averaging 17 students per class and Balmoral averaging 24.

“What can the board do to support these three schools on being commendable?” Sawallisch asked. “For me, where the focus needs to be at this point… looking at this targeted and comprehensive as a board member is unacceptable.”

Dr. Perkins indicated that funding for more teachers and specialized support staff would be the primary driver for reducing class sizes and increasing interventions.