Summary:
The 60505 zip code area of Aurora, Illinois is home to 4 middle schools serving grades 6-8: Henry W Cowherd Middle School, K D Waldo Middle School, C F Simmons Middle School, and Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy. The data reveals stark differences in academic performance between the schools, with Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy significantly outpacing the other middle schools in the area.
Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy stands out as the top-performing school, ranking in the top 150 middle schools in Illinois while the other schools are in the bottom 25% statewide. In the 2024-2025 school year, Fred Rodgers had 86.1% of students proficient or better in ELA, compared to just 22-26% at the other schools and 53.1% statewide. In math, 49.1% of Fred Rodgers students were proficient or better, versus 7.6-11.1% at the other schools and 38.5% statewide. The magnet school has maintained this strong academic performance over the past 3 years.
In contrast, the 3 non-magnet middle schools in the 60505 zip code area have consistently low proficiency rates in ELA and math, well below state averages. These schools also share high chronic absenteeism rates of 25.4% and serve predominantly low-income populations, with 55.5% to 75.3% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite relatively low student-teacher ratios, the non-magnet schools struggle to provide the same level of educational quality as the high-performing Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy.
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