Why more Families are Choosing Concordia for Academic Excellence

Choosing a school is one of the biggest decisions a family makes — and it’s not one you can make from a website. The best way to understand what makes Concordia different is to walk our halls, sit in on a class, and see how our teachers and students engage with one another. But before you schedule that visit, here’s a look at why so many Peoria families are choosing Concordia — and what the numbers say about the difference a Concordia education makes.  [Schedule a Tour →] 

Academic Excellence Across Every Subject

This spring, Concordia students in grades K-8 posted strong results across the board on the NWEA MAP assessment, which measures performance against a national norm:

In other words, the typical Concordia student is outperforming somewhere between 7 and 8 out of every 10 students nationally in every core subject tested — not just one standout area. These results reflect small class sizes, individualized attention, and a curriculum built around genuine academic rigor.

How We Compare Locally

Families researching schools in the Peoria area often ask how Concordia stacks up against Peoria Public Schools (District 150). It’s worth understanding that the two measurements come from different tests: Concordia’s NWEA MAP assessment compares students against a national norm, while Illinois’ state assessment (IAR and the Illinois Science Assessment) measures proficiency against state grade-level standards. The two numbers aren’t directly interchangeable, but side by side, the contrast is worth knowing:

Sources: Concordia’s Spring 2025-2026 NWEA MAP data; District 150 proficiency figures from the 2025 Illinois Report Card, as reported by District 150 and local news coverage of the release. District 150’s 2025 proficiency rates reflect a district-wide increase from the prior year across ELA and math, alongside a decline in science.

The takeaway for families: at Concordia, strong academic performance isn’t the exception for a handful of students — it’s the norm, across every subject, in a setting small enough that no student falls through the cracks.

How We Compare to Dunlap CUSD 323

Dunlap is widely regarded as one of the top-performing public school districts in the Peoria area, so it’s a fair benchmark. It’s worth noting the two measurements come from different tests: Concordia’s NWEA MAP assessment compares students against a national norm, while Illinois’ state assessment (IAR/SAT) measures proficiency against state grade-level standards, so the numbers aren’t directly interchangeable. Still, side by side, the comparison is informative:

More Than Test Scores: A Values-Driven Community

Academic performance tells only part of the story. At Concordia, faith and learning go hand in hand. Families choose us because they want:

• A rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum taught by teachers who know every student by name
• Small class sizes that allow for real individual attention, not just individualized data
• A values-based community where character formation is treated as seriously as academic formation
• A safe, close-knit environment where students are known, supported, and challenged

See It for Yourself

Numbers can tell you a lot, but they can’t show you the way a teacher kneels down to help a struggling first-grader sound out a word, or the way 8th graders mentor their 2nd grade buddies during chapel. That’s something you have to experience in person.

Schedule your tour of Concordia Lutheran School today and see firsthand why families across Peoria are choosing academic excellence paired with faith-based values. We’d love to show you around.

[Schedule a Tour →]