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Southwestern Middle School

Q: Is Southwestern Middle School a good school?

Southwestern Middle School ranks 492 nd of 1126 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

492^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,126 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 56% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Southwestern Middle School is a small public school in Piasa, serving 171 students in grades 7–8 as part of Southwestern CUSD 9. Its overall results have improved, but they hide a sharp difference between grades. The clearest concern is eighth-grade math: 21% of eighth graders were proficient, compared with 52% of seventh graders—a 31-point gap.

The school is stronger in ELA and eighth-grade science than in math, though results vary against the state and district. Overall ELA proficiency was 63%, 7 points above the state but 6 below the district; math was 35%, 4 points below the state and 5 below the district. Eighth-grade science was a bright spot at 63%, 11 points above the state and equal to the district. Among nearby schools with all-grades results, Southwestern ranked sixth of 11 in ELA and fourth in math, and exceeded their averages by 7 and 6 points, respectively. In seventh-grade math, its 52% proficiency was higher than every nearby school with a reported result.

Results have risen since 2023–2024: ELA increased from 37% to 63%, while math rose from 17% to 35%; math still falls short of the state. SchoolDigger rates the school at the 56th statewide percentile and 3 stars for 2025–2026, up from the 44th percentile in 2023–2024. Its 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio is among the lowest in the nearby group. In 2024–2025, 42% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with a 51% average among nearby schools reporting the measure. One subgroup ranking merits attention: SchoolDigger placed the Special Education Students group at the 1st statewide percentile in 2024–2025, compared with the school’s overall 55th percentile, indicating especially weak relative standing in how well the school serves that group.

171

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,092

Per pupil spending ?

42.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

98.8%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

8226 Route 111
Piasa, IL 62079-2051

(618) 372-3813

District: Southwestern CUSD 9

Students who attend Southwestern Middle School usually attend:

High:

Southwestern High School

Feeder schools for Southwestern Middle School:

Elementary:	Brighton North Primary School
	Shipman Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.2%

Hispanic:

2.3%

Two or more races:

2.3%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Southwestern Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 56th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Illinois median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg58%

Illinois avg49%

492^nd of 1,126

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 44%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to top 44% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

416^th of 738Southwestern CUSD 9 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	52.8	492 of 1126	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.3	615 of 1368	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.5	769 of 1363	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.2	567 of 1367	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.0	574 of 1369	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.6	449 of 1241	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.3	391 of 1356	71.2%	★★★★☆
2018	73.0	287 of 1293	77.8%	★★★★☆
2017	67.7	344 of 1293	73.4%	★★★★☆
2016	57.5	473 of 1294	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.9	462 of 1302	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	68.2	394 of 1322	70.2%	★★★★☆
2013	52.7	656 of 1367	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	65.3	510 of 1365	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	73.9	329 of 1344	75.5%	★★★★☆
2010	68.7	445 of 1327	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	63.3	545 of 1318	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.3	563 of 1293	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.6	559 of 1287	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	59.1	597 of 1272	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	70.1	406 of 1209	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.0	453 of 1204	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2003	47.7	704 of 1185	40.6%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.6	673 of 694	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	33.2	419 of 639	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.4	596 of 674	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	50.8	423 of 867	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.7	406 of 1248	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.5	510 of 1251	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.2	458 of 1275	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.9	499 of 1286	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.9	332 of 1017	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.4	422 of 1276	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.4	267 of 1226	78.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	44.6	660 of 1229	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.6	892 of 1219	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.6	546 of 1234	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.0	514 of 1221	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.2	250 of 1019	75.5%	★★★★☆
2019	74.6	193 of 1217	84.1%	★★★★☆
2018	68.4	263 of 1161	77.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	53.1	365 of 829	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.6	762 of 1271	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.0	905 of 1264	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.5	622 of 1292	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.4	589 of 1286	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.6	514 of 1048	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.8	322 of 1296	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	70.2	294 of 1223	76.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	12.6	801 of 812	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.9	648 of 802	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.5	788 of 805	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	34.2	495 of 781	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.3	517 of 792	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	31.4	540 of 754	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.1	661 of 884	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	733 of 875	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.9	610 of 895	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.8	594 of 898	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.1	447 of 813	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.8	458 of 905	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.8	369 of 889	58.5%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2026)56th percentile~ school

Female (2026)51st percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)46th percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)28th percentile-28 vs school

Disabled (2025)3rd percentile-52 vs school

Special Education (2025)1st percentile-54 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts63%+7 vs state

Science63%+11 vs state

Mathematics35%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southwestern 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 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	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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%)	52.8	492^nd of 1126 public middle schools	56.3%		50.3	615^th of 1368 public middle schools	55.0%	123		63.2			71.4	56.3	63.4			51.9	20.7	35.4	98.8%		$15,092	$512	$14,580
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)	71.8		72.9	69.0			70.9	38.8	28.7			33.7	97.2%		$14,494	$1,318	$13,175
Jersey Community Middle School	Public	5-7	1101 S Liberty St	Jerseyville	62052	Jersey County	Jersey CUSD 100	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 498-5527	489	35	14.1	45.2%	454 (92.8%)	3 (0.6%)	11 (2.2%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.5%)	58.1	419^th of 1126 public middle schools	62.8%		69.4	369^th of 1368 public middle schools	73.0%	50	52.7		66.7	69.0	71.3		68.7	36.4	35.1	44.4		38.5	99.1%		$13,121	$610	$12,511
Alton Middle School	Public	6-8	2200 College Ave	Alton	62002	Madison County	Alton CUSD 11	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 474-2200	1,220	87	14.0	51.1%	628 (51.5%)	354 (29.0%)	44 (3.6%)	10 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	182 (14.9%)	12.4	1016^th of 1126 public middle schools	9.8%		27.8	967^th of 1368 public middle schools	29.3%	49		33.6		35.7	33.7	39.1	36.1		21.7	24.6	15.8	20.8	98.7%		$16,763	$444	$16,319
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%)	28.4	810^th of 1126 public middle schools	28.1%		44.7	696^th of 1368 public middle schools	49.1%	114		39.8		56.9	48.6	48.9	51.3		27.1	31.1	30.3	29.6	99.1%		$13,189	$470	$12,719
East Alton Middle School	Public	6-8	1000 3rd St	East Alton	62024	Madison County	East Alton School District 13	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 433-2201	193	18	10.8	51.3%	150 (77.7%)	29 (15.0%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.7%)	23.3	870^th of 1126 public middle schools	22.7%		39.3	782^nd of 1368 public middle schools	42.8%	88		44.0		48.5	42.7	55.1	47.9		20.6	22.7		20.8	89.5%		$21,298	$930	$20,368
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%)	41.4	640^th of 1126 public middle schools	43.2%		50.1	619^th of 1368 public middle schools	54.8%	21		58.0		53.8	37.7	52.4	48.5		31.2	43.5	50.0	41.7	100%		$14,832	$960	$13,872
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%)	43.9	612^th of 1126 public middle schools	45.6%		66	413^th of 1368 public middle schools	69.8%	199		52.4		70.4	69.5	70.6	70.2		23.8	29.3	15.3	22.7	97.6%		$14,345	$1,304	$13,042
Lewis-Clark Junior High School	Public	6-8	501 E Lorena Ave	Wood River	62095	Madison County	Wood River-Hartford Education Service District 15	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 254-4355	171	15	11.6	72.5%	139 (81.3%)	14 (8.2%)	11 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.1%)	20.9	902^nd of 1126 public middle schools	19.9%		31.8	913^th of 1368 public middle schools	33.3%	11		25.5		57.8	39.7	45.8	47.0		22.2	29.8		22.0	99.3%		$21,081	$1,212	$19,868
Roxana Junior High School	Public	6-8	401 Chaffer Ave	Roxana	62084	Madison County	Roxana CUSD 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 254-7561	393	29	13.4	53.7%	329 (83.7%)	23 (5.9%)	10 (2.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.1%)	27	825^th of 1126 public middle schools	26.7%		44.4	705^th of 1368 public middle schools	48.5%	120		51.5		56.6	44.3	48.2	49.5		27.9	26.9	16.8	23.7	99.5%		$17,949	$1,064	$16,886

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern Middle School

How many students attend Southwestern Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 171 students attended Southwestern Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Southwestern Middle School attend?

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

What is the racial makeup of Southwestern Middle School?

Students at Southwestern Middle School are 94% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Is Southwestern Middle School a good school?

Southwestern Middle School ranks 492^nd of 1126 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Southwestern Middle School in?

Southwestern CUSD 9

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Schools in Piasa, IL

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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.