SCHOOL NEWS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Celebrating excellence, sharing milestones, and highlighting the people & achievements that make New Simpson Hill extraordinary.
#22 IN ILLINOIS
ONE OF ILLINOIS' TOP 25 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
New Simpson Hill School District #32 has been ranked #22 among public elementary schools in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report in its 2027 Best Elementary Schools rankings!
This incredible honor reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our students, educators, staff, families, and community. We are grateful for this recognition and proud to continue our mission of Inspiring Excellence!
Press Release
10/23/26
New Simpson Hill Earns Prestigious Recognition: Ranked #22 Best Public Elementary School in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report
TUNNEL HILL, IL — In a newly revealed ranking released Tuesday, U.S. News & World Report named New Simpson Hill District 32 among the top elementary programs in the state, placing it at #22 on the newly published 2027 list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools.
New Simpson Hill District 32 serves pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Driven by its mission of "Inspiring Excellence," the district provides a supportive learning environment focused on academic rigor, character development, and strong community partnership.
Living up to its core mission of "Inspiring Excellence," the Tunnel Hill school stood out among thousands of public elementary institutions across Illinois and more than 70,000 schools evaluated nationwide at the state and district levels.
To evaluate public elementary programs fairly and comprehensively, U.S. News & World Report combines direct standardized test performance with demographic context into a single 0-to-100 percentile score.
"We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the top 25 elementary schools in Illinois," said Superintendent Rebecca Yandell. "Ranking #22 in the state validates the hard work of our educators, support staff, students, families, board members, and community. This recognition demonstrates our continued commitment to high expectations, foundational reading and math skills, and individualized support. We strive to inspire excellence every day."
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
October 23, 2026 | New Simpson Hill School District #32
2026-2027 Staff Picture
1st Row: George Zaranti, Kathy Anderson, Cherolyn Bouras, Rebecca Yandell, Laren Evetts, Kim Hogan, Carla Johnson
2nd Row: Racheal Huckelberry, Adrienne Tripp, Melanie Wright, Heather Dailey, Sara Schell, Donna Bloodworth, Jennifer Ross
3rd Row: Misty Fritch, Suzy King, Skylar Johnson, Aerial Ford, Rebeca Walker, Jennifer Mize, Emmalee McPheron, Amber Huckelberry, Kaleigh DeNeal, Amber Taylor
4th Row: Brian Plate, Melody Schmidt, Sara Holhubner, Lisa Miller, Breanna Kerley, Branon Waters, Rhonda Hill, Kendra Chance, Morgan Dalton
5th Row: Joey Borders, Jarrett Johnson, Brandon Dalton