Rock Falls High School Achieves Record Graduation Rates in 2025

The graduation rate at Rock Falls High School reached an impressive 92.4% in 2025, surpassing both the state average and the rates of nearby Sterling and Dixon High Schools. The annual Illinois school report cards, released on October 30, 2025, indicate that public schools across Illinois achieved a record high graduation rate of 89%, up from 87.7% in 2024. Rock Falls High School’s graduation rate has increased from 91.2% the previous year, marking a notable achievement in the region.

Principal Mike Berentes credits the school’s success to enhanced resources introduced in recent years aimed at supporting struggling students. Among these is a credit recovery program that allows students to regain missing credits by collaborating with teachers before and after school, as well as during study hall. “Our teachers and staff have been doing a really good job at identifying students early,” Berentes remarked in a prior interview.

Sterling High School also performed well, with a graduation rate of 91%, a significant improvement from 86.2% in 2024. Meanwhile, Dixon High School saw its graduation rate rise to 88.9%, up from 82.1%, showcasing a positive trend across the board.

Dixon High School Principal Jared Shaner noted the importance of daily attendance in driving graduation rates. “We’ve had a really big push the last couple of years on improving daily attendance. That’s really where it starts,” he said. The school has implemented various strategies, including attendance contracts that incentivize good attendance and reward students with opportunities to forego final exams for consistent participation.

The report also highlighted chronic absenteeism as a critical factor affecting graduation rates. In 2024, 42.2% of Dixon High School students were considered chronically absent, but this figure improved to 36.2% in 2025. The school has begun utilizing the NEXUS program from the Regional Office of Education No. 47, which collaborates with families to address attendance issues.

Chronic absenteeism has also decreased at Sterling High School, where it dropped to 20.2% in 2025. In contrast, Rock Falls High School experienced an increase in chronic absenteeism, with a rate of 24.7% compared to 19.9% the previous year. Despite this rise, Rock Falls had the lowest rate of chronic absenteeism among the three schools in 2019, at 8.9%.

Across Illinois, chronic absenteeism among students remains a concern, though rates have shown a steady decline since 2022, currently standing at 25.4%. Dixon Public Schools’ overall chronic absenteeism rate decreased to 28.1%, while Sterling Public Schools reported a rate of 15.7% in 2025.

The Illinois school report card evaluates schools on various performance metrics, including proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science, the percentage of ninth graders on track to graduate within four years, and overall school climate. Schools receive a summative designation based on their performance, with the top 10% classified as exemplary.

According to the report, all Dixon Public Schools received a commendable designation, which Principal Shaner viewed as a significant accomplishment. Jefferson Elementary School, serving grades two and three, was previously ranked targeted in 2024, while Sterling Public Schools and Rock Falls’ middle school and Dillon Elementary School also achieved commendable status.

While most schools demonstrated commendable performance, Merrill Elementary School, which serves grades three to five in Rock Falls Elementary School District 13, saw a decline in its ranking from commendable in 2024 to targeted in 2025 due to lower scores among students with disabilities.

The advancements made by Rock Falls High School and its counterparts reflect the ongoing commitment to educational success in the region. As schools continue to implement effective strategies to support student achievement, the positive trends in graduation rates and reduced absenteeism signify a hopeful future for students in Illinois.