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Gillespie Middle School

Q: Is Gillespie Middle School a good school?

Gillespie Middle School ranks 619 th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

619^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 55% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Gillespie Middle School is a public middle school in Gillespie, Illinois, serving 262 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Gillespie CUSD 7 district, which is ranked 442 out of 811 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Gillespie Middle School has consistently performed below the state average in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency over the past few years. In 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates were 40.8% in ELA and 37.2% in Math, compared to the state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%, respectively. Compared to nearby schools like Hillsboro Junior High School and Carlinville Middle School, Gillespie Middle School's academic performance is generally lower. The school's performance also varies across different student subgroups, with relatively stronger performance for low-income students but weaker performance for White and Special Education students.

Another area of concern for Gillespie Middle School is its high chronic absenteeism rate, which has ranged from 21.7% to 26.3% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. While the school's spending per student and student-teacher ratio are in line with nearby schools, its statewide ranking has steadily declined from 387th out of 1,293 Illinois middle schools in 2016-2017 to 619th out of 1,368 in 2024-2025, suggesting a concerning trend of declining performance over time. The school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage, may be contributing to these academic challenges.

244

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,533

Per pupil spending ?

62.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

412 Oregon St
Gillespie, IL 62033-1174

(217) 839-2116

District: Gillespie CUSD 7

Students who attend Gillespie Middle School usually attend:

High:

Gillespie High School

Feeder schools for Gillespie Middle School:

Elementary:

Ben-Gil Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.9%

Two or more races:

3.3%

African American:

0.8%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Gillespie Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 52nd percentile in 2015 → 55th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Illinois median (55th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!English Language Arts scores 12 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg46%

Illinois avg46%

619^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 45%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to top 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

442^nd of 811Gillespie CUSD 7 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	50.1	619 of 1368	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.4	581 of 1363	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.9	553 of 1367	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.7	585 of 1369	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.1	724 of 1241	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.3	593 of 1356	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.4	437 of 1293	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.9	387 of 1293	70.1%	★★★★☆
2016	67.2	347 of 1294	73.2%	★★★★☆
2015	44.6	630 of 1302	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.3	639 of 1322	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	49.6	708 of 1367	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.0	797 of 1365	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	30.6	1049 of 1344	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	30.4	1019 of 1327	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	55.0	703 of 1318	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	58.7	641 of 1293	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	57.9	631 of 1287	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	50.5	745 of 1272	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	51.8	691 of 1209	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	42.7	769 of 1204	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2003	33.4	842 of 1185	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	37.5	382 of 694	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.3	249 of 639	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	207 of 674	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	54.5	520 of 1248	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.1	480 of 1251	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.6	516 of 1275	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.2	611 of 1286	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.9	568 of 1017	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.4	557 of 1276	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.3	412 of 1226	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	50.6	564 of 1229	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.6	423 of 1219	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.6	227 of 1234	81.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.9	245 of 1221	79.9%	★★★★☆
2021	52.2	386 of 1019	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.8	414 of 1217	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.7	319 of 1161	72.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	45.6	633 of 1271	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.9	589 of 1264	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.0	534 of 1292	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.6	501 of 1286	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	29.8	723 of 1048	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.4	534 of 1296	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.6	467 of 1223	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.8	522 of 812	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.5	536 of 802	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	463 of 805	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.8	410 of 781	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.1	395 of 548	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.1	388 of 792	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	25.0	478 of 602	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.3	646 of 884	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.9	595 of 875	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.5	568 of 895	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.4	639 of 898	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.4	706 of 813	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.8	606 of 905	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.8	442 of 889	50.3%	★★★☆☆

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)58th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)54th percentile~ school

Male (2025)50th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2025)45th percentile-10 vs school

Special Education (2025)36th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)27th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science50%+5 vs state

English Language Arts41%-12 vs state

Mathematics37%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Gillespie 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 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 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 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
Gillespie Middle School	Public	6-8	412 Oregon St	Gillespie	62033	Macoupin County	Gillespie CUSD 7	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 839-2116	244	18	13.6	62.7%	229 (93.9%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	50.1	619^th of 1368 public middle schools	54.8%		51.4	581^st of 1363 public middle schools	57.4%	38		50.0		36.8	43.4	41.7	40.8		29.4	37.3	44.4	37.2	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.6	$14,533	$755	$13,778
Staunton Junior High School	Public	6-8	801 N Deneen St	Staunton	62088	Macoupin County	Staunton CUSD 6	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 635-3831	240	18	13.6	39.6%	224 (93.3%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.3%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	78.2	267^th of 1368 public middle schools	80.5%		72.6	313^th of 1363 public middle schools	77.0%	46		70.1		79.0	72.0	70.1	73.8		34.6	37.3	48.1	39.9	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	$12,552	$573	$11,978
Phoenix Safe Schools Program	Public	6-9	1100 N Old Route 66	Litchfield	62056	Montgomery County	Bnd/Chrstn/Effngh/Fytt/Mntgmr ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 408-2185	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Litchfield Middle School	Public	6-8	1701 N State St	Litchfield	62056	Montgomery County	Litchfield CUSD 12	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 324-4668	282	23	12.2	62.8%	261 (92.6%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.1%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.8%)	73.2	326^th of 1368 public middle schools	76.2%		78.8	239^th of 1363 public middle schools	82.5%	87		50.6		72.0	74.0	81.8	75.0		25.8	41.7	40.3	35.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.0	$14,343	$731	$13,612
Carlinville Middle School	Public	6-8	110 Illinois Ave	Carlinville	62626	Macoupin County	Carlinville CUSD 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 854-3106	286	17	16.4	46.5%	266 (93.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.5%)	66	413^th of 1368 public middle schools	69.8%		73.6	299^th of 1363 public middle schools	78.1%	114		56.3		70.6	58.1	71.2	66.9		30.6	30.2	33.3	31.5	98.9	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.9	97.9	98.2	93.2	$13,151	$1,441	$11,710
Southwestern Middle School	Public	7-8	8226 Route 111	Piasa	62079	Macoupin County	Southwestern CUSD 9	No	(n/a)	No	No	(618) 372-3813	171	14	12.1	42.1%	161 (94.2%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.3%)	50.3	615^th of 1368 public middle schools	55.0%		38.5	769^th of 1363 public middle schools	43.6%	154		37.9			65.9	50.0	57.8			29.3	24.4	26.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	$14,334	$523	$13,811
Medora Intermediate School	Public	5-6	124 N Elm St	Medora	62063	Macoupin County	Southwestern CUSD 9	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 372-3813	160	12	13.0	40.6%	154 (96.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)								(n/a)	50.6		67.5	73.3			70.3	36.1	33.3			34.8	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	43.6	$13,861	$1,067	$12,794
Hillsboro Junior High School	Public	6-8	909 Rountree St	Hillsboro	62049	Montgomery County	Hillsboro CUSD 3	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 532-3742	319	27	11.7	46.7%	295 (92.5%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	74.6	304^th of 1368 public middle schools	77.8%		71.3	331^st of 1363 public middle schools	75.7%	27		49.6		73.4	78.0	77.3	76.3		39.4	40.0	33.6	37.3	99.7	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.7	99.4	99.7	99.1	$14,558	$879	$13,679
Lincolnwood Junior High School	Public	6-8	507 N Prairie St	Raymond	62560	Montgomery County	Panhandle CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 229-4237	90	9	10.5	40.0%	83 (92.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	40.7	767^th of 1368 public middle schools	43.9%		51.8	575^th of 1363 public middle schools	57.8%	192		40.0		71.0	32.0	25.7	42.9		25.8	28.0	20.0	24.2	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.6	$14,502	$684	$13,819
Wilbur Trimpe Middle School	Public	6-8	910 2nd St	Bethalto	62010	Madison County	Bethalto CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 377-7240	556	39	14.2	46.9%	486 (87.4%)	16 (2.9%)	21 (3.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.4%)	44.7	696^th of 1368 public middle schools	49.1%		47.1	634^th of 1363 public middle schools	53.5%	62		38.4		54.1	42.2	48.6	48.4		25.7	27.8	26.5	26.6	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.6	$12,410	$461	$11,949

Frequently Asked Questions about Gillespie Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Gillespie Middle School?

Students at Gillespie Middle School are 94% White, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Gillespie Middle School in?

Gillespie CUSD 7

Is Gillespie Middle School a good school?

Gillespie Middle School ranks 619^th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Gillespie Middle School attend?

Students who attend Gillespie Middle School usually go on to attend Gillespie High School

How many students attend Gillespie Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 244 students attended Gillespie Middle School.

Rate Gillespie Middle School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2025

2024–25 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 30, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataOct 30, 2024

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.