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Northwestern Junior High School

Public Grades 7-8

1032^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 25% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Northwestern Junior High School is a small public middle school serving grades 7-8 in Palmyra, Illinois, with just 52 students enrolled. The school is part of the Northwestern CUSD 2 district, which is ranked 559 out of 811 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite its small size, Northwestern Junior High School faces significant challenges. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Illinois middle schools, with rankings ranging from 548 to 1168 out of around 1,300 schools over the past 10 years. Its proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly below the state and district averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 34.2% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 53.1% statewide, and just 18.4% were proficient or better in Math, compared to 38.5% statewide. The school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 17.0% to 28.3% over the past few years, well above the state average.

Nearby middle schools, such as Auburn Junior High at Divernon and Carlinville Middle School, significantly outperform Northwestern Junior High School on academic measures, suggesting that the challenges faced by Northwestern Junior High are not necessarily shared by all schools in the region. Addressing the issues at Northwestern Junior High School will likely require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to improve the educational outcomes for the students.

Students ?

7.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,547

Per pupil spending ?

52.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

30889 Route 111
Palmyra, IL 62674-6303

(217) 436-2011

District: Northwestern CUSD 2

Students who attend Northwestern Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Northwestern High School

Feeder schools for Northwestern Junior High School:

Elementary:

Northwestern Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.5%

Asian:

2.5%

Hispanic:

2.5%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Northwestern Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 27th percentile in 2015 → 25th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (25% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (25th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg36%

Illinois avg46%

1,032^nd of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 25%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

559^th of 811Northwestern CUSD 2 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	23.6	1032 of 1368	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.4	1168 of 1363	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.0	608 of 1367	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	22.4	1057 of 1369	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.9	988 of 1241	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.9	1025 of 1356	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.7	884 of 1293	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.0	742 of 1293	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	52.9	548 of 1294	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	26.8	955 of 1302	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	67.8	398 of 1322	69.9%	★★★★☆
2013	81.3	214 of 1367	84.3%	★★★★☆
2012	57.6	653 of 1365	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.4	461 of 1344	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	59.2	636 of 1327	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	75.6	297 of 1318	77.5%	★★★★☆
2008	57.1	668 of 1293	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	59.5	612 of 1287	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	72.6	351 of 1272	72.4%	★★★★☆
2005	74.2	335 of 1209	72.3%	★★★★☆
2004	71.5	364 of 1204	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2003	63.3	483 of 1185	59.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	68.1	331 of 1275	74.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	55.7	432 of 1234	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.9	888 of 1221	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.7	691 of 1019	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.3	950 of 1217	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.1	817 of 1161	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.7	1001 of 1271	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	1066 of 1264	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	886 of 1292	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	19.0	1072 of 1286	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.7	942 of 1048	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.6	860 of 1296	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	6.5	866 of 884	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.4	847 of 875	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	661 of 895	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.3	866 of 898	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.2	766 of 813	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.6	879 of 905	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.9	810 of 889	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2023)74th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)65th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)21st percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)2nd percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts34%-19 vs state

Science21%-24 vs state

Mathematics18%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwestern 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 8th 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 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
Northwestern Junior High School	Public	7-8	30889 Route 111	Palmyra	62674	Macoupin County	Northwestern CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 436-2011	40	5	7.9	52.5%	37 (92.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.5%)	1 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.5%)	23.6	1032^nd of 1368 public middle schools	24.6%		17.4	1168^th of 1363 public middle schools	14.3%	136	21.1		31.6	36.8	34.2		21.1	15.8	18.4	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	$20,547	$2,552	$17,995
North Mac Middle School	Public	6-8	525 N 3rd St	Girard	62640	Macoupin County	North Mac CUSD 34	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 627-2136	228	20	11.6	54.4%	207 (90.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.8%)	29.1	948^th of 1368 public middle schools	30.7%		33.6	844^th of 1363 public middle schools	38.1%	104	17.2	56.1	43.7	39.7	46.3	12.1	16.1	11.3	13.5	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.1	$14,026	$399	$13,627
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
Auburn Junior High at Divernon	Public	6-8	303 E Kenney St	Divernon	62530	Sangamon County	Auburn CUSD 10	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 628-3611	236	20	11.9	41.1%	211 (89.4%)	4 (1.7%)	9 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.1%)	73	329^th of 1368 public middle schools	76.0%		60	447^th of 1363 public middle schools	67.2%	118	45.2	78.5	82.9	68.2	76.1	38.5	37.7	36.5	37.4	98.7	98.7	98.7	98.7	98.3	98.3	99.2	95.4	$13,456	$933	$12,522

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern Junior High School

What district is Northwestern Junior High School in?

Northwestern CUSD 2

How many students attend Northwestern Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 40 students attended Northwestern Junior High School.

What high school do graduates of Northwestern Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Northwestern Junior High School usually go on to attend Northwestern High School

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern Junior High School?

Students at Northwestern Junior High School are 93% White, 3% Asian, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Northwestern Junior High School a good school?

Northwestern Junior High School ranks in the bottom 24.6% of Illinois middle schools.

Rate Northwestern Junior High School!

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Schools in Palmyra, IL

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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.