Wethersfield High School students are flexing their academic muscles once again.

Junior-Senior High School Principal Tyler Nichols told the Board of Education at its November meeting that the school had received word that five of its seniors have been named Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the second year in a row that many have qualified for the honor placing them in the top 10% of the Class of 2026.

Recipients will be notified by mail in the coming days and their names announced in a ceremony to be held at a later date.
Last year, five members of the Class of 2025 achieved the honor, the most from Wethersfield since 2019.

Back-to-back Illinois State Scholars comes on the heels of the high school’s second Exemplary designation in as many years by the Illinois State Board of Education with a score which placed it in the top 2% of school districts in the state in academic performance. The ranking is based on data collected in the ISBE’s 2024-25 Report Card.

The Illinois State Scholar program identifies graduating high school seniors who possess superior academic potential, according to the ISAC website and indicates an especially high potential for success in college.

According to Guidance Counselor Jessica Seiden, each year the school provides ISAC with class size, required class rank and Grade Point Average (GPA) for students in the sixth semester, or second half of their junior year.

The American College Testing Corp., or ACT, submits the results of tests administered during the same period. Students who choose to take the ACT are tested on four subjects, English, Math, Reading and Science.

ISAC combines the composite ACT scores with class rank and GPA to determine Illinois State Scholars.

Nichols told the school board that five of this year’s junior class attained a composite score of 27 on an ACT practice test administered Nov. 5. According to the ACT website, a score of 23 or higher in 2024-25 puts the student in the top 25% of test-takers and a score of between 27 and 32 increases their chances of admission to top universities. The highest ACT score attainable is 36.

Seiden said the pathway for their students to do well on the ACT begins with preparedness.

Preparing students for what they will face on the test begins their freshman year, continues in their sophomore year and culminates with the actual test in their junior year.

Seiden said 16 of this year’s 26 juniors took the practice test with 5 getting a composite score of 27, while most of the rest improved their score and the rest maintained it at the previous level.

Two teachers are integral to the students’ success of the preparation process. English teacher Shelli Sauer has conducted the sessions on English and Reading for the past several years, while Math teacher Bart Frey added preparation in math and science this year. Students are taught such things as keeping track of the time, since the tests are timed, having confidence in their answers and writing skills.

This year’s juniors will be taking the official ACT test next spring and, while some colleges no longer require ACT scores for admission, they are still an indicator of the student’s level of knowledge and ability to learn in the application process.

Class of ’26 to graduate on a Saturday

This year’s seniors will graduate on a Saturday, rather than a Sunday, as in past years, after the school board decided to move the ceremony from its traditional place on the school calendar.

Superintendent Dr. Andrew Brooks said that this year’s graduation would fall a week earlier than usual, on Sunday, May 17, which would not afford those needing to travel the Monday holiday the day afterward, as in the past.

Moving the date to Saturday, May 16, leaves Sunday for travel or other graduation-related activities. The ceremony will still begin at 2 p.m. in the high school gym.

Dr. Brooks said Kewanee High School’s graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, so the move will make it easier for those wishing to attend both graduations.