Summary:
Cortland, Illinois is home to a single elementary school, Cortland Elementary School, which serves students from grades K-5. The school's academic performance has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Illinois elementary schools over the past three years, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math well below state and district averages. Despite higher-than-average per-student spending and a low student-teacher ratio, the school faces significant challenges in student achievement.
Cortland Elementary School has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at 63.37% in 2023-2024, and a chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4% in 2024-2025, which is significantly higher than the state average. These factors suggest the school may be serving a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, which could be contributing to the school's low academic performance. The school's science proficiency rate for 5th graders in 2024-2025 was 30.3%, higher than the district average but still below the state average.
The data highlights the need for DeKalb CUSD 428 and Cortland Elementary School to implement targeted interventions and strategies to address the specific challenges facing its student population. This could include initiatives to improve attendance, provide additional academic support, and engage families more effectively. Addressing the underlying factors contributing to the school's performance challenges will be crucial for improving student outcomes and ensuring equitable educational opportunities for the Cortland community.
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