Summary:
The Springfield School District 186 in Illinois is home to 5 middle schools, serving students in grades 6-8. Among these schools, Lincoln Magnet School stands out as the top performer, consistently ranking among the best middle schools in the state. In contrast, the other 4 middle schools, including Benjamin Franklin Middle School, U.S. Grant Middle School, Washington Middle School, and Jefferson Middle School, rank much lower and have significantly lower test scores.
Lincoln Magnet School is the highest-ranked middle school in the district, ranking 193rd out of 1,368 Illinois middle schools in the 2024-2025 school year and receiving a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's test scores are significantly higher than the district and state averages, with over 75% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and over 45% proficient or better in Mathematics across all grades. In contrast, the other 4 middle schools in the district generally have much lower proficiency rates, with some schools having less than 10% of students proficient or better in certain subject areas.
The stark performance gap between Lincoln Magnet School and the other middle schools in the district suggests that the magnet school model may be providing a significantly better educational experience for its students. However, the high rates of chronic absenteeism (around 25%) across all the schools, including Lincoln Magnet School, indicate a potential area of concern that may be impacting student learning and achievement. Additionally, the lower test scores and rankings of the other 4 middle schools, combined with their higher percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggest that socioeconomic factors may be playing a significant role in student performance within the district.
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