Summary:
Bushnell-Prairie City Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 322 students in grades PK-5 in Bushnell, Illinois, which is part of the Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170 district. The school faces significant challenges, with low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and a growing population of economically disadvantaged students compared to nearby schools.
Academically, Bushnell-Prairie City Elementary School struggles, with only 9.1% of 3rd graders, 22.4% of 4th graders, and 5.4% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts. In mathematics, the proficiency rates were 24.2% for 3rd grade, 16.3% for 4th grade, and 0% for 5th grade. These scores are well below the state and district averages. The school has also experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 7.0% in 2019-2020 to 32.0% in 2022-2023. Additionally, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch has increased dramatically, from 27.49% in 2021-2022 to 65.22% in 2022-2023, indicating a growing population of economically disadvantaged students.
Compared to nearby schools, such as West Prairie South Elementary, Hedding Grade School, and Cuba Elementary, Bushnell-Prairie City Elementary School performs significantly worse academically and has a notably different racial makeup, with a higher percentage of white students. The school also serves a more economically disadvantaged population, with a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Despite increased spending per student, the school's academic outcomes remain well below state and district averages, indicating a need for a closer examination of the school's instructional practices, resource allocation, and support systems for students and families.
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