Bennett Day School Named Top 100 Finalist for Chicago Innovation Awards
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CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Bennett Day School, a private institution serving students from ages 2 through 12th grade in Chicago's West Loop, has been named one of the Top 100 Finalists for the 25th annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The school is the only PreK-12 institution selected as a finalist for its pioneering Bennett Mastery Pathway, a program that replaces traditional letter grades with competency-based assessment.
Out of more than 350 regional nominees, Bennett Day School was chosen as one of the Top 100 Finalists still in the running for the awards. The Chicago Innovation Awards celebrate the most innovative new products and services in the Chicago region across all organization sizes, sectors, and industries. Over 700 business and civic leaders will come together to honor the winners at the UIC Forum on November 17th.
The Bennett Mastery Pathway is one of the first in the nation to extend competency-based learning and the Mastery Transcript into middle school. This program replaces traditional letter grades, standardized test scores, and point averages with proof of real understanding. Through living digital portfolios, students demonstrate mastery over skills across disciplines, creating a comprehensive record of learning that colleges recognize while fostering self-directed learning and agency.
As one of the Top 100 Finalists, Bennett Day School will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend The Practical Innovator, a day-long executive education course on October 13th led by top faculty who teach innovation at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Each of the Top 100 Finalists is also in the running for the annual "People's Choice Award," selected through public online balloting at chicagoinnovation.com/nominations.
The judges will select 20 winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards. In addition to being celebrated at the Chicago Innovation Awards ceremony on November 17th, the winners will be invited to ring the Nasdaq Bell in New York City and receive widespread media recognition. Located at 955 W Grand Ave, Bennett Day School is a private school serving over 425 students ages 2 through 12th grade. For more information or to plan a visit, please visit bennettday.org.