85.1 percent of Lorenzo R. Smith teachers stay put; average earns $55,799 per year

The Illinois Schools Report Card finds that 85.1 percent of teachers stay at Lorenzo R. Smith Elementary School year to year, according to their 2020 three-year average.

The Illinois State Board of Education records data concerning faculty salary, retention and attendance because maintaining a stable faculty makes for a better environment for teachers and students, furthering student success, according to the report.

Pembroke CCSD 259 full-time faculty members number 13, with a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. There are 177 students enrolled at the elementary and middle school.

The average salary for teachers within the district is $55,799, ranking it 555th out of 1096 districts in the state for pay. About 87.3 percent of teachers at the elementary and middle school and 87.3 percent of those in the district were absent 10 days or fewer in 2020, compared to 86.6 percent of teachers in the state.

Salaries vary depending on the school and district, as well as the teacher's level of experience and education, according to the report. The U.S. Department of Education considers teacher attendance a "leading indicator" of how well students perform. When a high rate of teachers are absent more than 10 days, data shows students perform worse.