83% and climbing: Peoria's graduation rate just hit its highest in at least a decade

More Peoria students are finishing school, staying in class and sticking with their teachers. The 2026 Illinois Report Card puts Peoria Public Schools' graduation rate at 83% — up 2.3 points in a year and a world away from the 68.5% of 2016. English proficiency rose from 29% to 32%, science jumped from 20.7% to 27%, and chronic absenteeism fell to 29.7%, its lowest since 2018. Teacher retention, meanwhile, has climbed from 79% in 2020 to 90%. 'Academic achievement, attendance and student engagement are closely connected,' said superintendent Dr Jerry Bell.

SDG 4 · Quality education