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Zion Central Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1107^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,126 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 2% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Zion Central Middle School serves 330 students in grades 6–8 in Zion, in the Zion Education Service District 6. Nearby schools vary in size, with enrollments from 240 to 721. The most important concern is mathematics: in 2025–2026, just 4% of Zion students were proficient, the lowest result among the ten nearby schools serving the same grades.

ELA is the school’s relative strength, while math remains its clearest weakness. Zion’s 30% ELA proficiency in 2025–2026 was 7 points above the district’s 22% and 2 points above the nearby-school average of 28%, but 27 points below the state’s 56%. Eighth-grade ELA was particularly strong compared with local peers: 40% were proficient, the second-highest result among the nearby schools serving grades 6–8. Math was much weaker: Zion’s 4% was below the district’s 7%, the state’s 40%, and the nearby-school range of 7.9%–21.7%. Eighth-grade science was another gap: 17% proficiency was above the district’s 13% but below the state’s 52% and the nearby average of 28%.

ELA has improved over time, rising from 20% in 2023–2024 to 30% in 2025–2026, while math has remained very low: it rose from 3% to 7% and then fell to 4%. SchoolDigger’s overall ranking also declined, from the 13th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 2nd percentile in 2025–2026; the latest ranking was 1,107th of 1,126 Illinois schools, with 0 stars. For context, the 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 11.1, the third-lowest among the nearby group, and 86% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. These figures describe the school’s context, not the reason for its test results.

330

Students ?

11.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,182

Per pupil spending ?

85.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

96.2%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

1716 27th St
Zion, IL 60099-2553

(847) 379-0227

District: Zion Education Service District 6

Students who attend Zion Central Middle School usually attend:

High:	Zion-Benton East High School
	Zion-Benton Township High School

Feeder schools for Zion Central Middle School:

Elementary:	Beulah Park Elementary School
	East Elementary School
	Elmwood Elementary School
	West Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

63.0%

African American:

25.8%

White:

6.7%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Zion Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 2nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (17% vs 49% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg14%

Illinois avg49%

1,107^th of 1,126

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to bottom 2% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Middle Schools in the Zion Education Service District 6

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	4.7	1107 of 1126	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.1	1292 of 1368	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	1188 of 1363	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.2	1296 of 1367	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	1188 of 1369	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	1076 of 1241	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.2	1217 of 1356	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.3	1225 of 1293	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	20.4	1051 of 1293	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.5	1010 of 1294	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.3	923 of 1302	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	16.4	1155 of 1322	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	12.2	1244 of 1367	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	13.5	1235 of 1365	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	22.0	1135 of 1344	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	22.4	1100 of 1327	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	18.7	1111 of 1318	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	18.8	1087 of 1293	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	24.9	1032 of 1287	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	22.8	1038 of 1272	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	15.7	1018 of 1209	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	9.2	1073 of 1204	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	11.0	1037 of 1185	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.1	538 of 574	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	451 of 548	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.5	482 of 569	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.2	468 of 573	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	342 of 385	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.4	509 of 565	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	501 of 511	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	26.0	562 of 694	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.6	595 of 639	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	603 of 674	10.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.8	449 of 483	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	447 of 486	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	469 of 480	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	27.6	419 of 454	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	35.8	205 of 277	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.7	329 of 339	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	31.7	257 of 285	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	3.4	852 of 867	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	10.5	1183 of 1248	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	1093 of 1251	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	1203 of 1275	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	1097 of 1286	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.8	868 of 1017	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.4	1197 of 1276	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.5	1178 of 1226	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	11.4	450 of 483	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.8	633 of 669	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.1	547 of 643	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.4	645 of 661	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.2	608 of 662	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.4	445 of 517	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.6	573 of 639	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.1	572 of 590	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	7.4	759 of 788	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.2	1145 of 1229	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.4	1033 of 1219	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.0	1176 of 1234	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.3	1029 of 1221	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	828 of 1019	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.6	1062 of 1217	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.6	1099 of 1161	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	4.6	801 of 829	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	12.4	1190 of 1271	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.4	1089 of 1264	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1210 of 1292	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.4	1120 of 1286	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.5	957 of 1048	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.4	1096 of 1296	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.9	1124 of 1223	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.1	20 of 21	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.3	10 of 12	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.8	10 of 10	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2018	9.3	163 of 164	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.5	733 of 812	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.8	787 of 802	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.3	735 of 805	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.9	654 of 781	16.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.6	501 of 548	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.1	670 of 792	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.6	570 of 602	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2019	13.8	828 of 905	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.2	807 of 889	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2025)19th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2025)10th percentile+4 vs school

White (2019)9th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)7th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)7th percentile+5 vs school

African American (2025)6th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2025)5th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)4th percentile~ school

Male (2026)3rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2018)1st percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts30%-26 vs state

Science17%-35 vs state

Mathematics4%-35 vs state

1.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★0

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1★2

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Wednesday, February 14, 2018

I went to Central middle school for a basketball game. Let me say these students were out of control no repect for the visiting team nor adults. It's horrible that not even security can control them. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, February 19, 2009

The school is lacking in attending to the educational needs of my special needs child. Close Quote

Schools Near Zion 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 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
Zion Central Middle School	Public	6-8	1716 27th St	Zion	60099	Lake County	Zion Education Service District 6	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 379-0227	330	30	11.1	85.5%	22 (6.7%)	85 (25.8%)	208 (63.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	4.7	1107^th of 1126 public middle schools	1.7%		11.1	1292^nd of 1368 public middle schools	5.6%	185		17.1		21.6	25.5	40.2	29.8					4.4	96.2%		$26,182	$883	$25,299
Shiloh Park Middle School	Public	6-8	2635 Gabriel Ave	Zion	60099	Lake County	Zion Education Service District 6	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(847) 379-0400	358	27	13.5	85.8%	9 (2.5%)	99 (27.7%)	233 (65.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.7%)	5.4	1099^th of 1126 public middle schools	2.4%		10.8	1298^th of 1368 public middle schools	5.1%	199		8.9		24.3	36.3	27.9	29.6			15.0		9.1	100%		$23,800	$701	$23,099
Beach Park Middle School	Public	6-8	40667 N Green Bay Rd	Beach Park	60099	Lake County	Beach Park CCSD 3	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 596-5860	715	49	14.5	56.8%	68 (9.5%)	142 (19.9%)	451 (63.1%)	11 (1.5%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.3%)	8.1	1059^th of 1126 public middle schools	6.0%		16.8	1178^th of 1368 public middle schools	13.9%	119		26.9		35.3	26.5	39.0	33.6		19.0	14.1	10.9	14.7	99.2%		$22,945	$1,124	$21,822
North Prairie Junior High	Public	5-8	500 North Ave	Winthrop Harbor	60096	Lake County	Winthrop Harbor School District 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 731-3089	240	24	10.0	54.6%	121 (50.4%)	24 (10.0%)	75 (31.3%)	6 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.8%)	66.2	336^th of 1126 public middle schools	70.2%		75.6	291^st of 1368 public middle schools	78.7%	45	27.3	55.4	56.7	66.7	67.3	89.2	70.1	35.8	41.3	49.0	52.3	44.3	98.4%		$21,437	$951	$20,485
Jack Benny Middle School	Public	6-8	1401 Montesano Ave	Waukegan	60087	Lake County	Waukegan CUSD 60	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(224) 303-2470	475	38	12.5	62.1%	19 (4.0%)	47 (9.9%)	357 (75.2%)	34 (7.2%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.3%)	7.6	1068^th of 1126 public middle schools	5.2%		15.5	1206^th of 1368 public middle schools	11.8%	138		32.0		21.8	30.9	35.8	29.1			17.0	11.9	10.5	98.3%		$21,538	$1,566	$19,971
Edith M Smith Middle School	Public	6-8	930 New York St	Waukegan	60085	Lake County	Waukegan CUSD 60	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(224) 303-2760	493	44	11.2	72.2%	19 (3.9%)	53 (10.8%)	403 (81.7%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.2%)	3.3	1115^th of 1126 public middle schools	1.0%		9.4	1324^th of 1368 public middle schools	3.2%	209		23.2		19.9	15.7	23.7	19.6			10.1	8.7	7.9	86.6%		$23,531	$1,766	$21,765
Miguel Juarez Middle School	Public	6-8	201 N Butrick St	Waukegan	60085	Lake County	Waukegan CUSD 60	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(224) 303-2660	651	61	10.6	69.6%	14 (2.2%)	66 (10.1%)	543 (83.4%)	10 (1.5%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (1.8%)	4.1	1111^th of 1126 public middle schools	1.3%		12	1276^th of 1368 public middle schools	6.7%	165		22.9		23.8	21.6	25.5	23.9			10.5	11.1	9.2	98.8%		$24,595	$1,806	$22,789
Robert E Abbott Middle School	Public	6-8	1319 Washington St	Waukegan	60085	Lake County	Waukegan CUSD 60	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(224) 303-2360	585	49	11.9	71.1%	14 (2.4%)	37 (6.3%)	523 (89.4%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	3.2	1116^th of 1126 public middle schools	0.9%		12.3	1269^th of 1368 public middle schools	7.2%	153		13.3		23.3	21.4	23.0	22.5		12.3	8.7	5.7	8.8	99.1%		$21,926	$1,700	$20,226
Viking School	Public	6-8	4460 Old Grand Ave	Gurnee	60031	Lake County	Gurnee School District 56	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 336-2108	461	39	11.8	54.4%	88 (19.1%)	108 (23.4%)	216 (46.9%)	17 (3.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.5%)	5.8	1093^rd of 1126 public middle schools	2.9%		19.1	1138^th of 1368 public middle schools	16.8%	45		32.0		22.6	22.8	25.8	23.7		11.0	11.8	14.0	12.2	99.1%		$20,081	$576	$19,506
John R Lewis Middle School	Public	6-8	600 S Lewis Ave	Waukegan	60085	Lake County	Waukegan CUSD 60	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(224) 303-2560	721	64	11.2	74.1%	26 (3.6%)	101 (14.0%)	569 (78.9%)	9 (1.2%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.1%)	15.2	975^th of 1126 public middle schools	13.4%		28.7	953^rd of 1368 public middle schools	30.3%	22		38.0		33.0	38.6	45.8	39.0		24.0	24.2	16.6	21.7	98.7%		$24,073	$1,643	$22,429

Frequently Asked Questions about Zion Central Middle School

How many students attend Zion Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 330 students attended Zion Central Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Zion Central Middle School attend?

Students who attend Zion Central Middle School usually go on to attend Zion-Benton East High School

What district is Zion Central Middle School in?

Zion Education Service District 6

Is Zion Central Middle School a good school?

Zion Central Middle School ranks in the bottom 1.7% of Illinois middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Zion Central Middle School?

Students at Zion Central Middle School are 63% Hispanic, 26% African American, 7% White, 4% Two or more races.

Rate Zion 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.