Public Accountability Report

The internationally recognized Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students (grades 10-12) in its advanced, residential college preparatory program, and it serves thousands of educators and students in Illinois and beyond through innovative instructional programs that foster imagination and inquiry. IMSA also advances education through research, groundbreaking ventures, and strategic partnerships. 

• Niche.com ranked IMSA as the No. 2 Best College Prep High School in Illinois, and its faculty were ranked the No. 1 Best High School Teachers in the state. Niche evaluated nearly 100,000 schools and districts using statistics and millions of student and parent reviews.

• Since its inception, IMSA has enrolled Illinois students from 98 of the state’s 102 counties in its residential Academy. In fiscal year 2025, the Academy enrolled students from 57 of 59 Illinois Senate districts and 102 of 118 Illinois House districts for the 2025-2026 academic year.

• Student Inquiry and Research (SIR), a core part of the academic program, enabled students to work with prominent scholars and world-renowned scientists to pursue original research questions, conduct studies, and invent products. Last year, 248 students partnered with professionals at colleges and universities, research institutions, businesses, and museums. Students presented their work around the world, and many projects were published in peer-reviewed journals.

• The Summer Research and Experiential Learning Opportunities (SRELO) Program enabled students to participate in research, internships, and experiential learning opportunities under the guidance of mentors across Illinois. More than 100 students showcased their work at IMSA’s Summer Research Symposium. The program planned to expand to include non-IMSA students, increasing access to high-level, hands-on research experiences statewide.

• IMSA celebrated the opening of new hub locations in Chicago and Carbondale and expanded programming at the Belleville/Metro East hub. These locations increased access to IMSA programming and educational opportunities for students and educators across Illinois.

• IMSA senior Jaden Blankenship ’25 was named a 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar, one of only 150 students selected nationwide from more than 100,000 applicants. Shashi Salavath ’25 and Devarsh Shah ’25 were also named Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalists, a distinction earned by just 1% of applicants based on academic excellence, leadership, and community impact.

• Rachel Qi ’25 and Neev Patel ’25 were named U.S. Presidential Scholar finalists, placing them among the nation’s top students for academic excellence, leadership, and service. Out of 3.9 million high school graduates nationwide, only 161 students earned this distinction. Having two finalists from the same school was a significant honor. Math faculty member Evan Brummet and English faculty member Eric Rettberg were recognized as Distinguished Teachers by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program for their exceptional impact on student growth and success.

• The National Merit Scholarship Program named 28 semifinalists and 8 finalists from IMSA’s Class of 2025.

• Across the workforce, more than 7,500 IMSA alumni applied their scientific training to address global challenges and advance the human condition, with more than two-thirds working in STEM fields. Alumni included doctors driving breakthroughs in neurological disorders and cancer treatments; scientists at national laboratories; educators and academic leaders at institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and the University of Illinois; and technology innovators at Facebook, Google, BuzzFeed, and Microsoft. Others served as business leaders and engineers at organizations such as Boeing, McDonald’s Corporation, Motorola, the New York Stock Exchange, Nissan, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and Shell. Many became investors in tech start-ups and social ventures, as well as entrepreneurs and co-founders of transformative companies, including Netscape, PayPal, OkCupid, Yelp, and YouTube.

• Members of IMSA’s faculty, staff, and founders modeled professional excellence and achievement. They included presidential award recipients, published authors, and a Nobel laureate in physics. In fiscal year 2025, all faculty members held advanced degrees, and 52% held doctorates.

• IMSA’s Center for Teaching and Learning provided STEM programming to educators across Illinois, both in person and virtually. Educators from pre-K through the college level advanced their instructional knowledge and skills through professional development, conference sessions, and district-specific engagements, all grounded in inquiry-based, problem-centered, competency-driven, and integrative teaching and learning.

• The Center for Teaching and Learning also provided STEM programming to thousands of students across Illinois, both in person and virtually. Student enrichment programs served learners in grades K–12 through single three-hour thematic sessions, multi-week residential experiences on IMSA’s campus, and yearlong virtual research opportunities through the RISE program.