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Urbana School District 116

Stronger Together. Leading for the Future.

Portrait of a Graduate

Portrait of a Graduate

Circular graphic with the text 'PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE' and 'URBANA116', featuring a silhouette of a graduate with raised arms.

Urbana School District created its first Portrait of a Graduate as part of a collaborative effort to develop a comprehensive strategic plan. This effort included parents, community members, students, staff, and administrators. This process involved reviewing the district’s current state, researching workforce readiness and an in-depth discussion on the competencies young people need to develop before graduating. The goal was to ensure that all Urbana students graduate, realizing their full potential. 

We want to shift the mindset of our school community so that they understand that graduating from high school is not the end goal. The ultimate goal is to prepare our graduates for college, careers, and life after graduation. The skills and competencies taught through our Portrait will ensure their future readiness. Part of our role as a school district is to define excellence and ensure our students are future-ready. We can no longer rely on students acquiring solely academic content; we must be more intentional anbout fostering durable skills. Durable skills are the skills that most students need post-graduation to enter the workforce as successful employees or entrepreneurs, no matter how they get there, whether through college, the military, or the workforce.

Our portrait outlines six essential competencies and skills to equip our students for lifelong success.

Critical thinking is using your mind as a detective and an inventor. Critical Thinkers identify innovative and creative solutions to complex problems. They gather, analyze, and evaluate information and ideas to think deeply, apply multiple perspectives to develop innovative solutions, and make informed decisions. 

Our Students… 

  • Understand a global view and propose solutions that  are mindful of the impact on other parts of a system  and the environment
  • Evaluate one’s own thinking through analysis, assessment, and reflection
  • Reflect upon and find multiple ways to respond to  a problem
  • Look at things from different angles, finding good information, and thinking deeply

Adaptability combines various cognitive, emotional, and social  skills. These skills enable our students to navigate challenges, embrace change, continue learning, and thrive in an evolving  world.

Our Students… 

  • Demonstrate resilience and overcome challenges with  a growth mindset and attitude
  • Manage emotional thinking and embrace change as an opportunity for growth
  • Master new skills in a rapidly evolving world
  • Are flexible and organized in all environments

Self-management is understanding and regulating one’s  emotions, thoughts, and actions to foster personal growth,  achieve goals, and navigate diverse environments effectively.  This includes managing stress, staying motivated, and  empathizing with others from various backgrounds to  promote a positive and inclusive school community.

Our Students…

  • Accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations
  • Set personal and collective goals
  • Accurately recognize emotions and their influence  on behavior
  • Understand how their actions and words impact others and the environment around them

Effective communication is like a recipe. Each type - verbal, nonverbal, or written - requires a different combination of ingredients, such as listening, speaking, and understanding. Effective communicators build skills in developing and sharing their voices. They listen, seek, and receive constructive feedback, read nonverbal cues, and collaborate with the intent to include and understand others’ viewpoints, opinions, and culture. They confidently engage in appropriate communication to resolve disagreements peacefully and productively.

Our Students…

  • Articulate thoughts and ideas in various forms of  communication, including oral, written, visual, and  nonverbal, in their chosen language
  • Understand, negotiate, and balance diverse views and  beliefs to reach workable solutions
  • Demonstrate awareness, sensitivity, concern, and respect  to connect with others
  • Effectively communicate to inform, explain, motivate,  and persuade a range of audiences

Perseverance is the ability to work towards goals with effort and determination, even when a task seems challenging. It involves self-discipline and grit, resisting the urge to give up by choosing to navigate obstacles to achieve passions and goals.

Our Students...

  • Self-regulate and control cognition, motivation, and  behavior to set and achieve goals 
  • Tackle difficult problems and discover solutions 
  • Embrace the fear of failure as a means of growth 
  • Build networks of support and understand when to advocate for oneself and others

Social awareness is understanding and empathizing with others, especially those from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to foster positive relationships and a respectful community. This includes demonstrating responsible behavior by recognizing emotions, understanding social and ethical norms, and being aware of the impact of one’s actions on others within the school and broader community.

Our students...

  • Demonstrate empathy and compassion 
  • Appreciate and respect the differences of others and  their perspectives 
  • Understand how to handle stressful situations 
  • Recognize and celebrate the strengths and contributions  of others

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