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The LP Link is published bi-weekly during the school year to highlight the latest districtwide news and events at Lake Park High School. Contact Sherri Anderson, Director of Communications and Community Engagement, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for content.
| | Spotlight on the Illinois School Report Card | | |
Each month, the LP Link will spotlight an area of District focus with the goal of sharing valuable information and resources with our school community. This month focuses on the annual Illinois School Report Card that was released on Thursday, October 30 by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
This year’s Illinois School Report Card includes the positive news that Lake Park High School increased its Overall Index Score from 91.10 to 91.72, representing the District’s highest index score to date. Given the performance of all high schools across Illinois, the cutoff between the Exemplary Schools and Commendable Schools designations was 93.02. Even with Lake Park’s Overall Index Score increase, the District did not break into the top 10% of schools statewide, and therefore retained a Commendable Schools rating for the 2024-2025 school year. A Commendable Schools rating means that Lake Park has no underperforming student groups, a graduation rate greater than 67%, and an overall performance level outside the top 10% of schools statewide.
Since 2018, each Illinois school has received a Summative Designation, a measure of progress in academic performance and student success. These Summative Designations are calculated by assigning each school points for every accountability indicator, such as academic growth, graduation rates and chronic absenteeism. The indicators are weighted such that each one is worth a different number of total possible points.
Viewing the interactive Summative Designation shows that Lake Park’s Overall Index Score of 91.72 ranks the District in the top tier of all high schools that received a Commendable rating. Other notable achievements include growth for the Graduation Rate and earning full index scores in the summative designation categories of ELA Proficiency, Math Proficiency, Graduation Rate and the Climate Survey (Effective Leadership Improvement).
Included below are the Report Card indicators with historical data of Lake Park’s and the State scores when available. It is important to note that ISBE changed assessments in 2024-2025 from the SAT and the Illinois Science Assessment to the ACT. As a result of this change, there are no historical comparisons available for the student proficiency scores included below.
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English/Language Arts (ELA) Proficiency
ELA Proficiency is a ranking of Lake Park students achieving the established performance level on the ACT Reading and Writing component compared to students from across the state (norm group).
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| 2025 | | Lake Park | 67.7% | | State | 52.4% | | | |
Graduation Rate
Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of students entering 9th grade for the first time four years prior to the reported graduation year.
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| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | | Lake Park | 95.1% | 93.7% | 95.1% | 96.4% | | State | 87.3% | 87.6% | 87.7% | 89.0% | | | |
9th Grade on Track
Ninth grade on track is a predictor of high school success. This metric identifies the percentage of students as “on track” if they earn at least five full-year course credits (10 semester credits) and no more than one semester “F” in a core course (English, math, science, or social science).
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| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | | Lake Park | 97.0% | 98.3% | 97.3% | 96.3% | | State | 86.6% | 87.4% | 88.2% | 89.3% | | | |
Science Proficiency
Science Proficiency is a ranking of Lake Park students achieving the established performance level on the Illinois Science Assessment compared to students from across the state (norm group).
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| 2025 | | Lake Park | 59.7% | | State | 44.6% | | | |
Math Proficiency
Math proficiency is a ranking of Lake Park students achieving the established performance level on the SAT Math component compared to students from across the state (norm group).
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| 2025 | | Lake Park | 58.0% | | State | 38.4% | | | |
English Learner Progress to Proficiency (ELPtP)
ELPtP is a measurement of a multilingual student's potential to reach target proficiency within five years.
ISBE does not provide statewide data for this metric, because 2023 was the first year it was published on the School Report Card.
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| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | | Lake Park | 30.37% | 43.57% | 42.73% | | | |
Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic Absenteeism represents students missing 10% or more of school days per year with or without a valid excuse.
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| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | | Lake Park | 19.1% | 24.8% | 21.9% | 22.6% | | State | 29.8% | 28.3% | 26.3% | 25.4% | | | |
Climate Survey
5Essentials is a norm-referenced survey that offers a comprehensive assessment of Lake Park’s organizational culture.
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| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
Lake Park | Students
Teachers
Parents | 82.3%
73.8%
0.1% | 83.4%
59.9%
0.6% | 98.3%
94.2%
21.0% | 98.6%
94.3%
24.4% | | State | Students
Teachers | 80.3%
72.1% | 86.0%
75.0% | 87.1%
75.6% | 89.0%
75.5% | | | |
While the District is proud of earning a Commendable rating every year since the Summative Designations began in 2018, and only missed the Exemplary rating by 1.3 index points, there is still more work to be done. During the 2025-2026 school year, ISBE is undergoing a redesign of its accountability system to include grades 9, 10 and 11, focus on student growth, and support improvement in every school.
The District will continue to focus on academic growth, improved attendance, and increasing opportunities for Lancers within career and college pathways. For greater detail on the metrics assessed and the District’s academic progress, please use the following link to view Lake Park’s Report Card.
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Student-Athlete Recognition Events
National Letter of Intent signing, State sendoffs celebrate Lancer athletics.
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Congratulations to seven Lancer student-athletes who participated in a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony on Wednesday, November 12. Lake Park students, their families, and teammates attended a special recognition event that included coaches sharing highlights of their individual accomplishments and the students signing an official commitment to compete in collegiate athletics. Best wishes to these student-athletes in their respective sports!
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 | | Congratulations to the Girls Swim and Dive team who captured the IHSA Team Sectional Championship title at the Downers Grove North High School IHSA Sectional. This represents the 14th team sectional title in program history and the first since 2023. Following many amazing efforts in the pool, seven swimmers qualified in individual and three relay events to advance to the IHSA State Girls Swimming meet. The State meet will be hosted this weekend, November 14-15 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont. To honor the qualifying swimmers, a State Spirit March and Sendoff was held on Thursday, November 13 at West Campus. Veronica Krenska qualified for her fourth time, advancing in four events (50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay). Three-time qualifiers include Nicole Brzostowski (200 Medley, 200 Free Relay), Lily Drewry (100 Breast, 200 Medley Relay), Nadia Kowalski (400 Free Relay), Juliette Niemiec (200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay), and Maja Staniszewski (200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay). Chloe Jacklow is a first-time qualifier (200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay).
2025 Girls Swimming IHSA Sectional Team Members: Nicole Brzostowski (11), Chloe Drewry (12), Lily Drewry (12), Chloe Jacklow (11), Nadia Kowalski (12), Karolina Krenska (10), Veronica Krenska (12), Jennifer Niemiec (10), Juliette Niemiec (11), Maja Staniszewski (12), Izabella Turczynska (12), and Jocelyn Weisgerber (09).
The girls swimming program is led by Head Coach Bennet Witteveen and Assistant Coaches and Lancers for Life Tim Layer and Lauren Zalon.
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Congratulations to Ruth Dellaria (11), Nick Sheklarevski (12), and Nick Zegger (12) who all qualified for the IHSA Class 3A State Championship Cross Country meet! The trio secured their spots at the highly competitive IHSA Sectional hosted by Lake Park. To honor these qualifiers, a State Spirit March and Sendoff was held on Friday, November 7 at West Campus.
On Saturday, November 8 at Detweiller Park in Peoria, all three Lancers ran impressive races. A two-time state qualifier, Ruth Dellaria ran an exceptional 3-mile time and a personal record of 17:38.21, placing 55th out of 235 competitors. This outstanding performance earned her 7th place on the LP All Time Top 10 list! Nick Sheklarevski ran a personal best with a 3-mile time of 15:11.52 and placed 104th while teammate Nick Zegger ran a solid 3-mile time of 15:32.63, placing 150th out of 236 competitors.
The Lancers Cross Country Teams are coached by Boys Head Coach Joey Pacione and Assistant Alberto Villa and Girls Head Coach Jay Ivory and Assistant Dave Haberman.
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Thespians Stage "A Christmas Carol"
Theatre Department to present a timeless tale of redemption, December 4-6.
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Lake Park Theatre will be performing the Charles Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, on December 4-6 at the East Campus Dice Auditorium. The 75-minute production is a timeless tale that features a dedicated cast of 38 students and a crew of 10 students. Show times are 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4 and Saturday, December 6. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5 due to the coinciding “A Taste of the Arts” event sponsored by the Lake Park Educational Foundation. General admission is $5 at the door for ages 13+ and free for senior citizens and Lake Park students with an ID.
The production tells the familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who has spent his adult life relentlessly prioritizing wealth and greed. His fate changes one Christmas Eve when he is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him of a worse eternal fate if he doesn't change his ways. Scrooge is then visited by three spirits—the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—who guide him through eye-opening scenes of his life, the current joys of others despite their poverty, and the bleak future of his own neglected death. These visits lead to Scrooge's dramatic repentance and transformation into a generous and kind-hearted man by Christmas Day.
Senior Matthew Tarullo narrates the Dickens’ tale, with junior Jack Colucci filling the role of Scrooge, senior Isaac Kaleta as Bob Cratchit, senior Java Lane as Marley’s ghost, junior Thalia Rhodes as the Ghost of Christmas Past, junior PJ Lavery as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and senior Phillip Howlett serving as the Ghost of Christmas Future.
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On Friday, December 5, the Lake Park Educational Foundation will host an exciting evening of A Taste of the Arts (formerly a Night of Fine Dining) at Lake Park’s East Campus. Guests will enjoy an elegant holiday-tasting menu prepared by Lake Park culinary students, a performance by the LP Jazz Ensemble, and reserved seating for the holiday play, A Christmas Carol. Guests can also bid on a wide array of silent auction items throughout the event. Tickets are $40 per person and include dinner and the play. Reserve your tickets by Monday, December 1!
Back by popular demand, the LPEF will be hosting an online auction the week leading up to the Taste of the Arts for the two best student parking spots in the Senior Lot at West Campus! Families of juniors and seniors for next school year (2026-2027) can bid on the closest spots to the door in the main student lot!
Online bidding will occur from Monday, December 1 at noon through Friday, December 5 at noon. Guests at the Night of Fine Dining & Theatre will have one last chance to place a winning bid. The two highest bidders will each receive a parking spot. Winner need not be present to win.
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College Jumpstart at College of DuPage
Learn more about COD's Summer Bridge to Success program for juniors.
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High school students can get a major head start on their college career and save money this summer. Designed for students between their junior and senior year during Summer 2026, this initiative allows participants to complete up to 12 college general education (gen ed) credits at the College of DuPage main campus in Glen Ellyn. Courses begin Monday, June 15 and end Saturday, August 8, 2026.This unique opportunity allows students to complete gen ed credits that are easily transferrable to most institutions, explore COD's campus, and build their transcript.
The most significant benefit is the cost savings: high school students receive a 50% tuition discount, making a 3-credit class only $234. To learn more about the program and register, students and parents must attend the mandatory informational session via Zoom on Tuesday, November 18, at 6:00 p.m.
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FAFSA Completion Night
Class of 2026 Lancers are invited to a free, virtual workshop for assistance.
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Lancer Holiday Season
Concerts and events to celebrate the season.
In the coming weeks, Lake Park will host a number of festive events open to the community beginning with the Winter Jazz Concert on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium. This free show is open to everyone and will feature the LPHS Jazz Ensemble (band) and the LPHS Vocal Jazz Ensembles.
The holiday events schedule continues with the 43rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair hosted at West Campus on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More than 100 vendors will offer handcrafted gift items for sale. Admission to the fair is $2.00 for adults and free for senior citizens and children.
On Tuesday, December 9, the Lake Park Choral Program presents a Holiday Festival of Choirs. Lake Park Choir Alumni are encouraged to attend and join on stage for the traditional singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. The holiday spirit continues on Thursday, December 11 for the Winter Band Concert featuring the "Sounds of The Season" from the LPHS Freshman Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony. Both performances take place in the West Campus auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public with treats provided following the performances!
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Film Appreciation Society: Shadow of a Doubt
Film buffs are invited to a free screening at West Campus on December 3.
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Lake Park High School's Film Appreciation Society is screening its next presentation on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium. Admission to the event is free.
The 1943 Hitchcock thriller stars Teresa Wright as Charlotte "Charlie" Newton, a bored teenage girl living in the small California town of Santa Rosa. She is delighted to learn that her debonair, well-traveled Uncle Charlie (portrayed by Joseph Cotten) is paying the family a visit. She anticipates this with excitement until some of Uncle Charlie's actions cause her to wonder if her beloved uncle might actually be the "Merry Widow" killer for whom the authorities are on the hunt. Intrigue builds as she launches her own investigation, not knowing if she is putting herself at risk to be the next victim.
The run time of the film is 1 hour, 48 minutes. The Lake Park Film Appreciation Society aims to engage the community in the presentation, exploration, interpretation, and critical discussion of classic cinema. Patrons will be able to cast their votes for the selection of the next Film Appreciation Society presentation.
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