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Prairie Central Junior High School

Q: Is Prairie Central Junior High School a good school?

Prairie Central Junior High School ranks 540 th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

540^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 61% of Illinois middle schools

250

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,590

Per pupil spending ?

52.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

800 N Wood St
Forrest, IL 61741

(815) 657-8660

District: Prairie Central CUSD 8

Students who attend Prairie Central Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Prairie Central High School

Feeder schools for Prairie Central Junior High School:

Elementary:	Prairie Central Elementary School
	Prairie Central Primary East
	Prairie Central Primary West

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.2%

Hispanic:

10.4%

Two or more races:

4.8%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Prairie Central Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2015 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Illinois median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 16 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg51%

Illinois avg46%

540^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to top 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

409^th of 811Prairie Central CUSD 8 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.8	540 of 1368	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.8	618 of 1363	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.2	397 of 1367	71.0%	★★★★☆
2022	67.0	368 of 1369	73.1%	★★★★☆
2021	67.4	324 of 1241	73.9%	★★★★☆
2019	74.4	295 of 1356	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	72.2	299 of 1293	76.9%	★★★★☆
2017	68.1	335 of 1293	74.1%	★★★★☆
2016	76.1	249 of 1294	80.8%	★★★★☆
2015	62.6	383 of 1302	70.6%	★★★★☆
2014	80.0	226 of 1322	82.9%	★★★★☆
2013	65.4	448 of 1367	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.9	315 of 1365	76.9%	★★★★☆
2011	75.3	296 of 1344	78.0%	★★★★☆
2010	75.3	306 of 1327	76.9%	★★★★☆
2009	73.9	333 of 1318	74.7%	★★★★☆
2008	73.7	341 of 1293	73.6%	★★★★☆
2007	69.6	405 of 1287	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	74.3	320 of 1272	74.8%	★★★★☆
2005	70.5	398 of 1209	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	78.3	258 of 1204	78.6%	★★★★☆
2003	69.8	385 of 1185	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	72.4	100 of 694	85.6%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	79 of 639	87.6%	★★★★☆
2023	81.3	52 of 674	92.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	49.9	582 of 1248	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.9	600 of 1251	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.8	387 of 1275	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	358 of 1286	72.2%	★★★★☆
2021	62.5	316 of 1017	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.6	336 of 1276	73.7%	★★★★☆
2018	72.1	279 of 1226	77.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.0	522 of 669	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	592 of 643	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	41.7	354 of 661	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.1	434 of 662	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.0	477 of 1229	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.9	685 of 1219	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.0	414 of 1234	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	383 of 1221	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.1	164 of 1019	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	65.2	314 of 1217	74.2%	★★★★☆
2018	59.3	376 of 1161	67.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	59.8	448 of 1271	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.4	565 of 1264	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.7	372 of 1292	71.2%	★★★★☆
2022	67.7	319 of 1286	75.2%	★★★★☆
2021	64.8	277 of 1048	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	76.4	246 of 1296	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	71.2	278 of 1223	77.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	46.6	354 of 812	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.4	328 of 802	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.8	250 of 805	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.6	209 of 781	73.2%	★★★★☆
2021	34.4	343 of 548	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.8	553 of 792	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.5	245 of 602	59.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	41.2	537 of 884	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.8	596 of 875	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.8	411 of 895	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.4	381 of 898	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.1	311 of 813	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.1	351 of 905	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.8	358 of 889	59.7%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2025)86th percentile+25 vs school

Male (2025)65th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)61st percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)56th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)53rd percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)39th percentile-21 vs school

Hispanic (2025)22nd percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts62%+9 vs state

Science54%+9 vs state

Mathematics22%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Prairie Central Junior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)						IAR Mathematics (2025)						% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Prairie Central Junior High School	Public	7-8	800 N Wood St	Forrest	61741	Livingston County	Prairie Central CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 657-8660	250	21	12.1	52.4%	208 (83.2%)	1 (0.4%)	26 (10.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.8%)	55.8	540^th of 1368 public middle schools	60.5%		47.8	618^th of 1363 public middle schools	54.7%	78		54.0				63.0	60.9	62.0				20.0	24.3	22.0	98.3	97.5	97.5	97.5	98.3	97.5	98.3	97.5	$14,590	$313	$14,277
Prairie Central Upper Elementary	Public	5-6	312 N Center St	Forrest	61741	Livingston County	Prairie Central CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 657-8238	216	18	11.7	44.0%	189 (87.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)								(n/a)	42.4			61.9	82.6			70.3		50.0	48.8			49.5	98.7	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	97.3	98.2	56.8	$14,893	$337	$14,557
Tri-Point Junior High/Elementary	Public	4-8	519 S Margaret Ave	Piper City	60959	Ford County	Tri Point CUSD 6-J	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 686-2247	129	13	9.9	96.1%	106 (82.2%)	3 (2.3%)	12 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	7 (5.4%)	47.3	664^th of 1368 public middle schools	51.5%		50.2	594^th of 1363 public middle schools	56.4%	70	72.2	29.2	37.5	72.2	43.8	58.3	45.8	50.0	54.2	94.4	25.0	37.5	33.3	45.1									$22,332	$749	$21,584
Pontiac Junior High School	Public	6-8	600 N Morrow St	Pontiac	61764	Livingston County	Pontiac CCSD 429	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 842-4343	326	29	11.3	50.0%	233 (71.5%)	25 (7.7%)	44 (13.5%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.4%)	26.7	985^th of 1368 public middle schools	28.0%		26.6	965^th of 1363 public middle schools	29.2%	20		26.5			26.4	57.0	35.4	40.2			14.4	18.7	6.2	12.9	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.1	99.4	99.4	96.6	$17,884	$990	$16,895
Ridgeview Junior High School	Public	6-8	202 E Wood St	Colfax	61728	McLean County	Ridgeview CUSD 19	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 723-2951	107	8	13.3	39.3%	90 (84.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.5%)	28.2	962^nd of 1368 public middle schools	29.7%		25.4	997^th of 1363 public middle schools	26.9%	35		40.0			18.4	25.0	40.0	28.3			7.9	32.1	20.0	18.9	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	98.3	99.1	96.5	$14,264	$1,687	$12,577
GCMS Middle School	Public	6-8	316 E 19th St	Gibson City	60936	Ford County	Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley CUSD 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 784-8731	211	21	10.1	38.9%	176 (83.4%)	1 (0.5%)	21 (10.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.7%)	73.6	319^th of 1368 public middle schools	76.7%		64.6	398^th of 1363 public middle schools	70.8%	79		61.8			71.4	77.0	71.6	73.2			23.8	52.5	31.1	35.4	100.0	98.6	98.6	98.6	99.5	99.5	100.0	99.1	$18,080	$897	$17,182

Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Central Junior High School

What is the racial makeup of Prairie Central Junior High School?

Students at Prairie Central Junior High School are 83% White, 10% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is Prairie Central Junior High School a good school?

Prairie Central Junior High School ranks 540^th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Prairie Central Junior High School in?

Prairie Central CUSD 8

How many students attend Prairie Central Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 250 students attended Prairie Central Junior High School.

What high school do graduates of Prairie Central Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Prairie Central Junior High School usually go on to attend Prairie Central High School

Rate Prairie Central Junior High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.