Champaign CUSD 4

The 17 schools in Champaign CUSD 4, in Champaign, Illinois, serve students from prekindergarten through grade 12: 12 elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. In 2025–26, the 10 K–5 schools averaged 41% in ELA, compared with 56% statewide, and 37% in math, compared with 40% statewide. Their results varied widely, from 17% to 59% in ELA and 16% to 64% in math. The most important takeaway is that a district-wide average hides sharply different school experiences.

Among K–5 schools, Carrie Busey Elementary School led in ELA at 59%, while South Side Elementary School led in math at 64% and fifth-grade science at 58%. Vernon L. Barkstall Elementary School also stood out, with 54% all-grades ELA and the highest fifth-grade ELA result, 57%. At the other end, Washington Elementary School had the lowest K–5 all-grades results: 17% in ELA and 16% in math. Jefferson Middle School led the middle schools in ELA and math, at 51% and 30%. At high school, Central High School led Centennial High School by about 18–20 percentage points across grade 11 ACT subjects; Central was above state results in all three, while Centennial was below.

Elementary averages improved from 2024–25 to 2025–26—by 2 percentage points in both ELA and math—but the K–5 ELA gap with the state widened, from about 15 to 16 points. Middle-school ELA improved by 6 points on average, narrowing its state gap from 12 to 9 points. High-school ACT averages declined; Centennial’s drops were larger than Central’s, especially in ELA and science. Context also differs: for sy 2024–2025, free/reduced lunch eligible students made up 42% at South Side and 76% at Washington; these figures describe the schools but do not explain their results. Busey’s student-teacher ratio was 14.2, compared with 16.7 at Robeson Elementary School. SchoolDigger’s ranking history also showed declines at Robeson, Edison Middle School, Franklin Middle School and Centennial; the district’s SchoolDigger rating was one star, at the 17th percentile.