Student Learning

Contact Us

• Associate Superintendent for Student Learning: Gina Ziccardi / gziccardi@csd99.org / 630-795-7111
• Director of Student Experiences: Ryan Doherty / ryandoherty@csd99.org / 630-795-7116
• Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning: Cat Marron / cmarron@csd99.org / 630-795-7112
• Data Manager: Colleen Daly / cdaly@csd99.org / 630-795-7134
• Program Manager: Victoria Miles / vmiles@csd99.org / 630-795-7122

District 99 encourages all students to challenge themselves by taking the most rigorous courses which may include honors, dual credit, and/or Advanced Placement (AP) courses. This plan aligns to the District’s goal of providing educational programs with opportunities for students to develop to their maximum potential. 

As partners in the course registration process, parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss course options as outlined in the Academic Planning Guide. Course recommendations are open in Home Access Center (HAC) during the course registration process.  Parents/guardians are notified of the courses their student has registered for, including those in which their student was automatically placed, if applicable.  A parent/guardian whose student was automatically accelerated may decline that placement.

Students entering grades 9 and 10 have the option of enrolling in the most rigorous courses available at that grade level and within an applicable course sequence in the four core areas, English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Students must meet the prerequisites for all classes.

Students entering grade 11 who meet/exceed standards on the requisite state assessment will be automatically placed in the next level of the most rigorous courses in English and Mathematics. Students entering grade 12 who meet/exceed standards on the requisite state assessment will be automatically placed in the next level of the most rigorous course in English. This does not preclude students who do not meet/exceed standards from being recommended for honors, dual credit or AP classes.  Families whose student was automatically accelerated may decline that placement.    

The following charts are provided in multiple formats to identify which assessments will be used to accelerate students entering grade 11 and 12 who meet/exceed standards on a state assessment.  

11th Grade Accelerated Placement

12th Grade Accelerated Placement

Accelerated Placement

In addition to assessments they take in class, students take standardized tests as ways to track their learning and give teachers valuable information. District 99 is also required by the state of Illinois to give other assessments; scores are used by faculty and staff to make instructional and programmatic decisions. 

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires District 99 to administer the ACT to students in grade 11. Taking the school-issued ACT is a requirement for graduation. Students in grades 9 and 10 take the “preACT Secure,” which provides an early experience of the ACT. The ACT includes assessments in English, math, reading, science and writing. 

District 99 also administers the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), which provides opportunities for scholarships to interested students in grade 11. In addition, students who wish to take the SAT may do so on a Saturday test date at participating locations for a fee; District 99 will not be administering the SAT during the school day.

To view the Interactive State Report cards, please follow these links:

• District 99
• North High
• South High

Junior high and middle school students may be eligible to earn high school credit for high school courses completed as part of the junior high or middle school programs and taught by qualified junior high and middle school staff members.

Proficiency credit for courses taught in junior high and middle school is limited to one credit in Mathematics and one credit in World (Foreign) Language. Credits earned by proficiency will apply toward graduation requirements. Students earning proficiency credit in world language are strongly encouraged to continue their studies rather than replace such opportunities with the proficiency credit.

In addition, once enrolled in high school, students earning proficiency credit must meet all other graduation, course load and grade-level requirements that apply

Criteria to Receive Credit

Class of 2021 or Later

Students must meet all of the following criteria:

• Complete the entire junior high or middle school course, which includes that course content identified by District 99 as core or essential
• Earn a first semester average of 60% or higher in the subsequent course level as a District 99 9th grade student
• Ensure that official junior high or middle school records of course completion are available upon request

Students who do not meet all of the above criteria will not be granted high school proficiency credit. No partial credit will be granted.

Course repeatability - Students who are granted high school credit through proficiency (World Language and/or Mathematics) are ineligible to repeat courses in which proficiency has been previoursly demonstrated.

Credit limitations - 1 credit in Mathematics, 1 credit in World (Foreign) Language

High School Transcript Impact - Students who earn proficiency credit will not receive a letter grade on their high school transcript.

District 99 is pleased to offer students the opportunity to earn the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or the Illinois State Commendation Toward Biliteracy, an award given by the Illinois State Board of Education to high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English and another language*. 

District 99 12th grade students may earn the Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation Toward Biliteracy in Spanish,  French or German. Starting with the 2021-22 school year, District 99 12th grade students may also earn the Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Toward Biliteracy in those languages assessed via the STAMP or AAPPL test. Students wishing to earn the Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Toward Biliteracy in Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and/or Thai will be offered the opportunity to take the AAPPL test. Students wishing to earn the Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Toward Biliteracy in Hebrew or Polish will be offered the opportunity to take the STAMP test.  These tests are administered by District 99 during the student’s senior year of high school.

Public colleges and universities in the State of Illinois award college credit to students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy. Students should contact the college or university directly to inquire about college credit.  

Process/Criteria for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Toward Biliteracy

Students must:

1. Provide evidence of proficiency in English (as defined by the Illinois State Board of Education) via a state approved assessment (SAT, ACT, ACCESS, AP English Language Exam).
2. Submit a District 99 Seal of Biliteracy/Commendation Toward Biliteracy Application. 
3. Demonstrate proficiency (as defined by the assessment and Illinois State Board of Education) in all four domains (listening, reading, speaking and writing) of the languages listed above via a state approved, District 99 administered assessment (AP foreign language exam, STAMP or AAPPL test*).
4. Students who have earned the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or the Illinois State Commendation Toward Biliteracy will receive their award (seal) at the time of their graduation or soon thereafter. Their achievement will also be acknowledged on their high school transcript.

* District 99 will consider awarding either the Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation Toward Biliteracy in the language outlined above without a District 99 administered exam, if the student can present official scores from one of the approved assessments showing that the student met the minimum score to qualify as outlined the state of Illinois. The assessment must be taken while the student is enrolled in high school. 

Illinois School Code requires that students must engage in physical education during the school day. There are several circumstances that allow school districts to excuse students from this requirement, including for a student’s ongoing participation in an interscholastic sport. 

In order to qualify for a physical education exemption, students must be: 

• In 11th or 12th grade,
• an active member of a District 99 junior varsity or varsity athletic team, and 
• enrolled in a minimum of 6 academic classes.

PE exemptions are not automatic. Students must apply for a PE exemption:

PE Exemption Application. 

Duration of Exemption

Students whose season spans more than 12 weeks of a semester may waive out of PE class for the entire semester.  If a student’s season spans less than 12 week of a semester, the student will be enrolled in a physical education course. While in season, students will be placed in study hall during their PE period. When season is over, student will return to PE class.

Grading Options

Students whose season spans less than 12 weeks and are enrolled in a PE course may elect to take the course for a pass/fail grade or a letter grade:

Pass/Fail (“P” or “F”) Option (Passing grades do not factor into a student’s GPA; failing grades factor into the student’s GPA)

PE class Pass/Fail requirements include:

• Student will not be required to make up content during which time the student is exempt.
• Student will be required to attend class daily and complete all coursework when not in-season. 
• Student will not be required to take the final exam.
• Student will receive a grade of 100% for the time in which the student is exempt.

Letter Grade Option: (Letter grades factor into a student’s GPA)

PE class Letter Grade requirements include: 

• Student will not be required to submit written work during the time in which the student was exempt.
• Student will be required to attend class daily and complete all course work when not exempt.
• Student will be required to take the  final exam.
• Student will receive a grade of 100% for the time in which the student is exempt.

Key Considerations:

• Seniors who do not fulfill the Athletic PE Exemption requirements during the 2^nd semester may be placed in a PE class and may be required to fulfill the PE requirement by other means as determined by the administration.
• Students whose season consists of 12 weeks or more of a semester will not be required to register for a PE course. NOTE: If a student decides not to go out for the team, quits during the season or is removed from the team, depending on when the removal occurs, the student may be placed in a PE Class that semester. However, if there is insufficient time left in the semester to award a PE credit, the student may be placed in a study hall and be required to take 2 PE classes in the next semester. This determination will be made by the student’s counselor, PE Teacher, Department Chair of Physical Education, Health and Driver’s Education and the Assistant Principal for Counseling and Student Support Services. 
• Students whose exemption is for less than 12 weeks will be required to register for a PE course. If the student ceases to participate in the sport, the student is required to stay in or return to PE class.
• Students should confer with their coach before seeking an exemption, since many programs rely on physical education to enhance preparation and condition for their specific sport.

District 99 PE Exemption FAQ

1. Are all students who participate in athletics eligible for a PE exemption?

No. Only 11th and 12th grade students who are active members of a District 99 varsity athletic team and enrolled in a minimum of six academic classes are eligible to participate.

2. Are student athletes who are exempted from Physical Education classes required to return to PE class when the season ends?

If the student’s athletic season is more than 12 weeks of a semester, the student will not be required to register for a PE class. If the student’s season is 12 weeks or less of a semester, the student will be required to attend PE class when not in season.  

3. If a student has a PE exemption for the entire semester (second semester basketball  and track, for example), is the student required to register for a PE class or can the student enroll in another academic class?  

Since the student season(s) will be more than 12 weeks of a semester (2nd semester in this example) the student will not be required to register for PE class and may register for another class, if interested.

4. If a student wishes to take another class instead of PE, can the student be exempted? There are certain circumstances in which a student, regardless of participation in an interscholastic sport, can apply for a PE exemption. Students should ask their counselor for information.

5.  Can a student be exempt from PE for participating in athletics or dance outside of District 99?  No. School code does not allow District 99 to exempt students for participation in activities outside of school.

7. Are there any PE courses for which a student athlete cannot be exempt?

Yes. Students cannot be exempt from PE Trainee, PE Leader, Lifeguard Training, Personal Trainer Certification, and Personal Safety and Wellness classes.

8.  How does a student apply for an athletic exemption?

Students should complete the application.  It is important that the student follow each step to ensure that the application is considered.  

9.  Are athletic exemptions automatic for grade 11 and 12 varsity athletes?

No. Students must apply for an athletic exemption. Athletic exemptions are approved on a case-by-case basis.