THE STATE WE’RE IN
2025
About the Report
The State We’re In 2025: A Report on Public Education in Illinois, continues Advance Illinois’ tradition of taking a holistic approach to exploring Illinois’ education performance and progress across the full birth-to-postsecondary continuum. The report tracks the state’s key investments in education through funding, and metrics like staffing, and student performance over the past fifteen years to surface changes and trends. These findings underscore that while the state has established a strong foundation for learning and success, it must act boldly and with urgency to ensure all students thrive with equitable support.
Explore The Report
Key Findings
More children are demonstrating proficiency across developmental domains, but gaps to kindergarten readiness widened from 2018 to 2023 for English Learners, by family income, and by disability status.
While Illinois remains one of the nation’s leaders in academic growth between 3rd to 8th grade, proficiency rates continue to stagnate.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a real and lasting impact on students, but investments into the Evidence-based Funding Formula (EBF) helped Illinois hold steady through pandemic disruptions, better than many other states.
Illinois continues to excel at supporting students to complete high school, posting consistently high 9th grade on-track and graduation rates.
Although the state did not achieve its initial goal of 60% of Illinoisans obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential by 2025, postsecondary outcomes continue to steadily improve, with completion rates on the rise and overall attainment increasing generally, and for all groups.
Affordability continues to be a barrier for Illinois students and families where high costs for child care and postsecondary tuition and fees consume a larger portion of median household incomes with Black and Latinx households disproportionately shouldering higher financial burdens.
Student mental health and wellness challenges remain unsustainably high, putting a greater strain on student support personnel and impacting student academic progress.
Equity At the Center
Nearly every metric with an available state ranking in the report reveals equity gaps for students from low-income households, students of color, English Learners, or students with disabilities. Even where Illinois ranks high nationally — student growth, retention, completion — inequities persist. With a growing Latinx and English Learner population, equity is not just a moral imperative but an economic necessity.
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On-the-Ground
As part of The State We’re In 2025: A Report on Public Education in Illinois, Advance Illinois spoke with scholars, practitioners, leaders, and advocates in Illinois early childhood, k-12, and postsecondary to explore the experiences, concerns, and strategies of those living the work that is uplifted in the research.
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Inside Illinois’ Rising Cost of Child Care
Two early childhood education providers share their perspectives on rising child care costs.
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From High School to College Success: How Dual Credit is Driving Change at JJC
At Joliet Junior College, the president bets big on dual credit.
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The Hidden Crisis: Why Rural Districts Face Unique Teacher Workforce Challenge
Small schools adapt with creative solutions, partnerships, and homegrown talent pipelines.
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Advocating for Student Mental Health: The Power of Data and Programs
K-12 and postseconday advocates highlight the significance of data and programs for student mental health.
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Elevating Our Teachers
Coming Soon