Summary:
Zion Central Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Zion, Illinois, with a student population of 323. The school's student body is predominantly Hispanic (58.82%) and African American (26.93%), and a significant portion (82.97%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty student population.
Despite the diversity of the student body, Zion Central Middle School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing middle schools in Illinois, with only 5.4% of 6th-grade students, 14% of 7th-grade students, and 10.5% of 8th-grade students achieving proficiency or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 34.2%, 37.9%, and 40.5%, respectively. The school's performance in mathematics is even lower, with only 1.1% of 6th-grade students, 3.1% of 7th-grade students, and 2% of 8th-grade students achieving proficiency, compared to the state averages of 23.4%, 26.9%, and 25.7%. Additionally, the school has consistently high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 37% to 42.6%, which is significantly higher than the state average.
When compared to nearby schools, such as Shiloh Park Middle School, which has similar demographic characteristics but slightly better academic performance, and other schools like North Prairie Junior High and Beach Park Middle School, which have higher academic performance and lower chronic absenteeism rates, it becomes clear that Zion Central Middle School is struggling significantly. This persistent underperformance and the stark differences in performance compared to nearby schools suggest the need for a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school improvement, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of the school's diverse student population.
Detail:
Public 6-8
District:
Zion Education Service District 6
SchoolDigger Rank:
1296th of 1,367 Illinois Middle Schools
Per Pupil Expenditures: $23,329
Students who attend Zion Central Middle School usually attend:
Feeder schools for Zion Central Middle School:
Student/teacher ratio: 10.7
Number of students: 323
Racial breakdown:
Hispanic:
58.8%
African American:
26.9%
Two or more races:
9.9%
more
White:
4.0%
American Indian:
0.3%
Free/discounted lunch recipients: 83%
See top rated Illinois middle schools
Compare Zion Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!