By Katherine Murphy

BLOOMINGTON– A handful of area schools have been listed as under-performing under a new labeling system for schools from the Illinois State Board of Education.

The new tags stem from the federal Every Student Succeeds Act or ESSA.

Under ESSA each state creates a simple way for parents to gauge the quality of a school.

In Illinois, a mixture of ten weighted factors are the basis of the labels – including standardized test scores, academic proficiency, absenteeism and graduation rates.

If even one of the demographic groups falls short a school can get slapped with the under-performing tag.

The upside of the under-performing label – each school with the tag gets $15 thousand in federal funds along with other federal assistance.

In District 87 – Bloomington Junior High, Irving Elementary, Sheridan Elementary and Stevenson Elementary were all listed as under-performing.

In Unit 5 – Colene Hoose Elementary, Evans Junior High School, Kingsley Junior High School and Parkside Junior High School all fall under the under-performing label.

Also in Unit 5 – three schools – Carlock Elementary, Grove Elementary and Prairieland Elementary were listed as exemplary.

Check school districts here