Summary:
The city of Palestine, Illinois is home to two schools - Palestine Grade School and Palestine High School, both part of the Palestine CUSD 3 district. These schools have consistently underperformed compared to state averages, with both ranked in the bottom half of their respective school types in Illinois.
Palestine Grade School stands out for its relatively low statewide ranking, consistently in the bottom quartile of Illinois elementary schools over the past 3 years. The school has significantly below-average test scores, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as a high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4%. In contrast, Palestine High School has a slightly better statewide ranking, but still falls in the bottom half of Illinois high schools. The high school's graduation rate of 89.0% is above average, but its test scores on the ACT and PreACT Secure exams are mixed, with strengths in some areas but significant weaknesses in Mathematics.
Across both schools, the data reveals systemic issues that need to be addressed. Proficiency rates in core subject areas are alarmingly low, with many grade levels scoring under 20% proficient or better. Additionally, the high chronic absenteeism rates at both schools suggest potential challenges with student engagement and attendance. Socioeconomic factors may also be contributing to the academic struggles, as both schools serve a significant percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
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