Illinois Report Card Boosts District 204 Scores

Indian Prairie School District 204 improved its statewide academic standing this week after the release of the 2026 Illinois Report Card. Under the new Profiles of Performance framework, 23 of the district's schools earned the top Exemplary designation. Four schools received an Approaching Exemplary rating, three were rated Commendable, and one school was classified as Developing. No school in the district fell into the lowest Comprehensive category.

The state system measures schools against statewide benchmarks rather than ranking them against one another. English Language Arts proficiency rose to 74.3 percent from 71.5 percent in the previous year. Science proficiency increased to 71.4 percent from 65.6 percent. Consistent attendance climbed to 94.4 percent. District officials identified strong progress by English language learners as a key driver of these results.

Families can review specific school data at IllinoisReportCard.com. The new metrics provide a different baseline for evaluation compared to previous annual reports.

Local government processes are also moving forward despite the current midterm election cycle. Petition filing for the April 2027 Consolidated Election closed on Oct. 26. The state requires a ballot lottery to determine the order of City Council candidates who filed at the same time. This public event is scheduled for noon on Monday, Nov. 2, in Council Chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center at 400 S. Eagle St.

Mayor Scott Wehrli and Councilman Benny White are running for mayor. Eight residents filed for four four-year City Council seats. The election is set for Tuesday, April 6, 2027.

Early voting for the Nov. 3 Midterm General Election ends on Monday, Nov. 2. Naperville spans DuPage and Will counties, and each county operates its own voting sites and hours. Both counties use the Naperville Municipal Center. Will County voters may also use the 95th Street Library. Polls will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters must cast ballots at their assigned polling place.

Open enrollment for 2027 Marketplace health insurance through Get Covered Illinois begins today and runs through Jan. 15, 2027. To secure coverage starting Jan. 1, residents must sign up or review their plans by Dec. 15. The DuPage County Health Department offers free assistance from certified staff. Appointments can be booked by calling (630) 682-7400.

Community organizations have launched several initiatives ahead of the holiday season. Mesón Sabika is offering complimentary traditional turkey dinners to individuals and families in need, a tradition that began in 2001. Pre-orders are due by Monday, Nov. 16, by calling (630) 983-3000. Pickup is available from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. As of Oct. 26, 2,500 of 4,000 dinners had been reserved.

The Naperville Sunrise Rotary will collect paper goods, food storage wraps, bags, and personal hygiene items for the West Suburban Community Pantry from 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. The drop-off location is in front of the Naperville Country Club at 25W570 Chicago Ave. The pantry serves more than 1,000 households a week and accepts items not covered by SNAP benefits. The Naperville Park District will host its Pumpkin Smash event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots at 811 S. West St.