Rich Township High School District 227 Builds on Student Success as 2026–2027 School Year Approaches

Rich Township High School District 227 Superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas
Rich Township High School District 227 Superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas

Rich Township High School District 227 Builds on Student Success as 2026–2027 School Year Approaches

 

 Rich Township High School District 227 is preparing to welcome students and staff back for the 2026–2027 school year with excitement, renewed energy, and a continued focus on students and student success.


The district enters the new school year building on several areas of progress, including a 90% graduation rate for the second consecutive year and a ninth grade on-track rate of approximately 93%, with 490 of 528 freshmen on track for graduation. Students also demonstrated strong academic growth, with 88% meeting or exceeding expected growth targets in mathematics and 84% meeting or exceeding expected growth targets in English.


“These results reflect the dedication of our students, staff, families, and community,” said Superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas. “We are proud of the growth we are seeing among our scholars. We are moving them forward from where they begin with us, and that is encouraging. As we prepare for another school year, we recognize that our work continues. We remain focused on creating the conditions for every student to succeed and ensuring that every moment our students spend with us matters.”


Expanding Student Opportunities

Rich Township students will continue to have access to a broad range of academic, college, career, and leadership opportunities. Participation in the district’s Early College Initiatives has continued to grow through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual-credit, dual-enrollment, and Prairie State College partnerships.


During the 2025–2026 school year, 147 students earned an Advanced Placement score of 3 or higher. The district’s International Baccalaureate program also continued to expand, with 47 students participating in IB testing and 15 students earning college credit in one or more courses. Dual-credit participation increased from 328 students during the 2024–2025 school year to 554 students during 2025–2026.


Among those students was 2026 graduate Queen Thigpen, who earned an associate degree in Computer Science from Prairie State College while completing her high school diploma at Rich Township. She will continue her education at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Her achievement represents the growing opportunities available to Rich Township students through the district’s early-college partnerships and commitment to preparing scholars for success beyond high school.


The district will continue strengthening college and career readiness by increasing opportunities for campus visits, admissions presentations, industry certifications, internships, career exploration, and postsecondary planning. Students will be encouraged to graduate with a clearly defined plan to enroll in college, enlist in military service, or enter the workforce.


Strengthening Teaching and Learning

District educators and administrators have spent the summer collaborating, reviewing student data, strengthening instructional practices, and preparing for the year ahead.


The district’s instructional focus will include high-quality, standards-aligned and culturally relevant curriculum; increased student engagement; expanded use of proficiency scales; common assessments in core courses; ACT preparation; and continued support for literacy, mathematics, science, career and technical education, and co-teaching.


Teachers will also receive additional coaching and collaborative planning opportunities through partnerships and instructional support in reading, mathematics, science, world languages, physical education, and career and technical education. The district’s professional learning structures will emphasize using student evidence and data to adjust instruction and provide timely support.


“Our staff members are committed to creating learning experiences that challenge students, recognize their strengths, and prepare them for their next steps,” Dr. Thomas said. “We are focused on consistent, high-quality instruction in every classroom, during every lesson, for every student.”


Supporting the Whole Student

The 2026–2027 school year will include an increased emphasis on student belonging, positive behavior, relationships, attendance, and restorative practices.


Attendance will remain a major district priority. Although average daily attendance increased to 87% during the 2025–2026 school year, continuing an upward trend from 84.4% in 2022–2023, currently only 53% of Rich Township scholars attend school at least 90% of the time. The district will work to improve that number by strengthening early-warning attendance systems, reviewing attendance information regularly, communicating more consistently with families, and expanding mentoring and student connections.


District leaders recognize that attendance is about more than simply being present—it is also connected to belonging, engagement, academic progress, and student success.

Additional student-support efforts will include reestablishing the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team, introducing a Raptor Buck system to recognize positive behavior, facilitating guided community-building circles, expanding restorative-practice activities and student leadership opportunities, and continuing access to Peace Rooms and multi-tiered systems of support.


Athletics, Activities and Raptor Pride

Beyond the classroom, Rich Township is preparing for another exciting year of athletics, activities, fine arts, clubs, student organizations, and community events. Participation continues to grow across the district, with 44% of students participating in athletics and 53.24% participating in student activities during the 2025–2026 school year. Since 2022–2023, athletic participation has increased by 11 percentage points, while activity participation has increased by nearly 29 percentage points.


The data also demonstrates the connection between student involvement, attendance, and academic achievement. Student-athletes maintained a 90.88% attendance rate, and students involved in activities recorded a 90.56% attendance rate—both more than three percentage points above the districtwide attendance rate of 87%. Student-athletes maintained an average GPA of 3.13, while students participating in activities achieved an average GPA of 3.47, compared with the overall school GPA of 2.79.


These experiences provide students with opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, discipline, creativity, confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging. Coaches, sponsors, and staff members are preparing programs that will allow students to compete, perform, serve, lead, and represent Rich Township throughout the region and beyond.


“Athletics and activities are not separate from student success—they are an important part of how we achieve it,” said Dr. Matthew Shank, Director of Athletics, Activities, and Communications. “Our participation continues to grow, and the attendance and academic data reinforce what we see every day: when students are connected to their school, they are more likely to attend, achieve, and develop as leaders. Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for every participant while continuing to expand opportunities for every Raptor.”


Building Relationships and Trust

Rich Township will continue strengthening its partnerships with families, alumni, feeder-school districts, colleges, community organizations, businesses, and local leaders.


The district’s plans include expanded feeder-school articulation, student-led campus tours, Future Raptor Night, middle-school visits, family information sessions, student panels, pathway presentations, and opportunities for future students to experience Rich Township programs before entering high school.


The district also emphasizes a culture of service in which every interaction reflects professionalism, respect, responsiveness, hospitality, and care. District leaders will work to ensure that students feel known, staff feel supported, families feel connected, and community members feel welcomed and valued.


“As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, we are moving forward as one school community,” Dr. Thomas said. “We are focused on making every moment matter. Meaningful engagement for our scholars, parents, families, and the community is at the heart of our work and is a part of our mission to focus on students and student success.”


Families and community members are encouraged to visit the district website, download the Rich Township High School District 227 mobile app, and follow the district’s social media platforms for important school-year updates.



Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Understanding Grief with Bren and Dr.V