Seven area schools received the state's highest designation under data released this week by the Illinois Board of Education, meaning they were among the top 10% of schools statewide. Most schools were designated commendable. One school received the "targeted" designation, which means it otherwise would be in the commendable or exemplary categories based on overall student performance but has one or more student groups performing at the bottom 5%. One school received the comprehensive designation, which means it is among the lowest-performing 5% of schools statewide.