Bennett Day School Nominated for the 25th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards
Most notably, Bennett Day School is the only school in Chicago serving students from age two through 12th grade recognized on this year’s list.
Redefining How We Measure Student Growth
The Chicago Innovation Awards recognized Bennett for being one of the first schools in the United States to extend mastery-based learning into middle school through our Bennett Mastery Pathway.
Traditional transcripts rely heavily on letter grades, test scores, and point averages, which only tell a small part of a student’s story. At Bennett, progress is shown through proof, not percentages, and evaluated through real evidence, not reported averages.
- Competency-Based Assessment: Instead of averaging points, Bennett evaluates progress against clearly defined competencies—skills that span subjects and strengthen over time.
- Mastery Over Memorization: Rather than chasing letter grades and memorizing content for tests, Bennett replaces rote instruction with a dynamic model built on curiosity, agency, and authentic application—so students learn to direct their own learning, connect ideas across disciplines, and think for themselves.
- Modern Records of Learning: Through the Mastery Transcript, each student builds a living portfolio showcasing project work, reflection, and true depth of understanding—creating a credible record of learning that colleges recognize immediately.
Matching Rigor with Humanity
Being built for what’s next means constantly setting a new standard for modern education. This nomination is a testament to the dedication of our educators, the curiosity of our students, and the strength of our entire community.
“We are honored to be nominated by the Chicago Innovation Awards alongside local institutions like Abbott, United Airlines, and Radio Flyer. Innovation is a long-standing tradition in Chicago, and it is at the core of our educational mission. This nomination recognizes what our teachers and students prove every day: a school built for what’s next can match rigor with humanity.”
— Cameron Smith, Founder & CEO
“The mastery transcript tells the whole story of who a student is becoming, not just how they scored. Bennett was one of the earliest schools in the country to bring it to middle schoolers, and our students are showing the nation what modern education can look like.”
— Heidi Hutchison, Head of School & COO
The full list of 2026 nominees is available at chicagoinnovation.com/2026-nominees/. Learn more about the mastery transcript at mastery.org.
See The Future of Education
Bennett Day School is different on purpose. Visit our West Loop campus and let us show you what modern, future-ready education looks like in action.