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A-C Central Middle School

Q: Is A-C Central Middle School a good school?

A-C Central Middle School ranks 504 th of 1126 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

504^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,126 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 55% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

A-C Central Middle School in Ashland, Illinois, serves 89 students in grades 5–8 and is the smallest of the nearby schools listed. In 2025–2026, 48% of students were proficient in all-grade English Language Arts (ELA), compared with 20% in Mathematics. Mathematics is the clearest concern: proficiency was 20%, below the state’s 40%, the district’s 33%, and the nearby-school average of 35%.

The school has notable strengths in some grade-level results, but performance varies. Seventh-grade ELA proficiency was 65%, 8 percentage points above the state and 15 points above the nearby-school average. Eighth-grade Science was also a strength: 58% proficiency matched the district, exceeded the state’s 52% by 6 points, and was 9 points above the nearby-school average. In contrast, eighth-grade ELA proficiency was 54%, 9 points below the state and 4 points below the nearby-school average. Attendance looks more favorable than the test results: chronic absenteeism was 17%, below the state’s 24%, the district’s 21%, and the nearby-school average of 24%.

Results have improved since 2023–2024, especially in ELA, but gaps remain. ELA proficiency rose from 30% to 40% to 48%, while Mathematics increased from 14% to 10% to 20%; the Mathematics gap with the state is still 20 points, 5 points wider than in 2023–2024. SchoolDigger’s overall ranking rose from the 14th percentile to the 55th percentile over those two years; its 2025–2026 ranking was 504 of 1,126, with 3 stars. SchoolDigger’s ranking for how well the school serves White students also improved, from the 3rd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 26th in 2025–2026, but remained below the overall 55th percentile. For context, the school’s student-teacher ratio was 12.2 in 2024–2025, and 42% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that school year. With 89 students, individual results may be sensitive to how many students were tested.

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,529

Per pupil spending ?

41.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

98.9%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

601 W Buchanan St
Ashland, IL 62612

(217) 476-3312

District: A-C Central CUSD 262

Students who attend A-C Central Middle School usually attend:

High:

A-C Central High School

Feeder schools for A-C Central Middle School:

Elementary:

A-C Central Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.4%

Two or more races:

4.5%

Hispanic:

1.1%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare A-C Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 28th percentile in 2016 → 55th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 27 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Illinois median (55th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (42% vs 49% meeting standards)

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

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg48%

Illinois avg49%

504^th of 1,126

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 45%▲ up 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to top 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

373^rd of 738A-C Central CUSD 262 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
2026	51.7	504 of 1126	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	24.3	1026 of 1368	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.5	1166 of 1363	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.7	1078 of 1367	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.4	811 of 1369	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.6	1032 of 1241	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.5	1139 of 1356	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.2	1022 of 1293	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.1	848 of 1293	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	27.7	933 of 1294	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.4	1091 of 1302	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	48.8	707 of 1322	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.6	583 of 1367	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.1	624 of 1365	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.2	706 of 1344	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	70.1	426 of 1327	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	72.1	371 of 1318	71.9%	★★★★☆
2008	73.7	343 of 1293	73.5%	★★★★☆
2007	78.2	231 of 1287	82.1%	★★★★☆
2006	82.7	148 of 1272	88.4%	★★★★☆
2005	56.6	631 of 1209	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	49.0	700 of 1204	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2003	78.4	246 of 1185	79.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	27.0	913 of 1248	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	1062 of 1251	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.7	1104 of 1275	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	958 of 1286	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.9	942 of 1017	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.6	1077 of 1276	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.9	900 of 1226	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.4	1088 of 1229	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	1009 of 1219	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.6	975 of 1234	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	48.0	552 of 1221	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	16.2	980 of 1019	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.6	761 of 1217	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.8	969 of 1161	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.4	987 of 1271	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	916 of 1264	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	931 of 1292	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.3	757 of 1286	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.9	797 of 1048	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.0	987 of 1296	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.9	961 of 1223	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	29.4	559 of 754	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.3	844 of 884	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.0	851 of 875	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.7	866 of 895	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.1	784 of 898	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.2	776 of 813	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.5	892 of 905	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	833 of 889	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)27th percentile~ school

White (2026)26th percentile-29 vs school

Male (2025)22nd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

Science58%+9 vs state

English Language Arts48%-8 vs state

Mathematics20%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near A-C Central Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ISA Science (2026)		IAR English Language Arts (2026)						IAR Mathematics (2026)						Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
A-C Central Middle School	Public	5-8	601 W Buchanan St	Ashland	62612	Cass County	A-C Central CUSD 262	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 476-3312	89	7	12.2	41.6%	84 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.5%)	51.7	504^th of 1126 public middle schools	55.2%		24.3	1026^th of 1368 public middle schools	25.0%	522		58.3				65.0	54.2	48.2						20.0	98.9%		$22,529	$862	$21,667
Pleasant Plains Middle School	Public	5-8	2455 N Farmingdale Rd	Pleasant Plains	62677	Sangamon County	Pleasant Plains CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 626-1061	393	26	15.1	11.5%	357 (90.8%)	7 (1.8%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.0%)	14 (3.6%)	53.7	479^th of 1126 public middle schools	57.5%		65.4	420^th of 1368 public middle schools	69.3%	59	69.7	58.3		78.8	61.2	70.1	68.8	69.7		45.5	37.1	35.1	41.7	39.8	98.7%		$12,879	$82	$12,798
New Berlin Junior High School	Public	6-8	300 W Ellis St	New Berlin	62670	Sangamon County	New Berlin CUSD 16	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 488-6012	155	13	12.2	29.0%	145 (93.5%)	2 (1.3%)	4 (2.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	60.3	395^th of 1126 public middle schools	64.9%		75.4	294^th of 1368 public middle schools	78.5%	101		52.5			67.9	70.6	69.5	69.3			45.3	52.9	37.3	44.8	98.2%		$16,111	$43	$16,068
Athens Junior High School	Public	7-8	501 Warrior Way	Athens	62613	Menard County	Athens CUSD 213	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 636-8380	144	11	13.5	40.3%	125 (86.8%)	2 (1.4%)	7 (4.9%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.6%)	62.5	370^th of 1126 public middle schools	67.1%		54.4	566^th of 1368 public middle schools	58.6%	196		72.6				53.2	82.2	68.9				45.2	39.7	42.2	97.2%		$12,429	$00	$12,429
Jacksonville Middle School	Public	6-8	664 Lincoln Ave	Jacksonville	62650	Morgan County	Jacksonville School District 117	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 243-4384	680	55	12.3	54.9%	503 (74.0%)	68 (10.0%)	31 (4.6%)	10 (1.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (9.6%)	30.7	779^th of 1126 public middle schools	30.8%		41.3	756^th of 1368 public middle schools	44.7%	23		54.2			46.2	44.4	58.6	49.4			30.0	26.0	29.6	28.5	99.2%		$16,843	$744	$16,099
Cantrall Intermediate School	Public	4-6	155 Claypool St	Cantrall	62625	Sangamon County	Athens CUSD 213	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 487-9082	184	14	13.6	34.8%	168 (91.3%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (2.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.4%)								(n/a)	60.7		73.2	62.3	74.5			70.1	63.4	39.3	54.5			52.9	98.4%		$14,367	$00	$14,367
U S Grant Middle School	Public	6-8	1800 W Monroe St	Springfield	62704	Sangamon County	Springfield School District 186	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 525-3170	498	46	10.9	72.1%	151 (30.3%)	262 (52.6%)	15 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (13.1%)	5.8	1090^th of 1126 public middle schools	3.2%		11.9	1278^th of 1368 public middle schools	6.6%	188		20.3			33.7	28.4	33.3	31.8			9.2	14.6		9.8	99.8%		$20,241	$1,463	$18,778
Benjamin Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 Outer Park Dr	Springfield	62704	Sangamon County	Springfield School District 186	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 787-3006	709	54	13.1	53.5%	237 (33.4%)	288 (40.6%)	48 (6.8%)	45 (6.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (12.3%)	23.6	866^th of 1126 public middle schools	23.1%		36.6	833^rd of 1368 public middle schools	39.1%	33		39.1			55.6	35.7	38.1	43.5			35.0	27.9	25.7	29.7	99%		$19,002	$1,314	$17,688

Frequently Asked Questions about A-C Central Middle School

Is A-C Central Middle School a good school?

A-C Central Middle School ranks 504^th of 1126 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of A-C Central Middle School?

Students at A-C Central Middle School are 94% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

What high school do graduates of A-C Central Middle School attend?

Students who attend A-C Central Middle School usually go on to attend A-C Central High School

What district is A-C Central Middle School in?

A-C Central CUSD 262

How many students attend A-C Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 89 students attended A-C Central Middle School.

Rate A-C Central Middle School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresNewOct 30, 2026

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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.