The chart below shows the 3-year average percentage of teachers returning to work at Quincy Public Schools compared to the average in the state of Illinois (source: Illinois State Report Card). Stability in the teaching staff often helps to foster a collaborative environment in which teachers work together to advance student achievement. However, some movement of teachers in and out of schools is normal. In 2018-2019, QPS completed a multi-year project including the building of five, new K-5 elementary buildings. As a result, school boundary lines were re-drawn in the city and students and staff were shifted to the new schools. While QPS, like all schools, have teachers who leave schools for various reasons each year, the closing of old elementary buildings, opening of new buildings and the movement of teachers to these new schools had an impact on the overall teacher retention rate for 2018-2019.