Summary:
The 61418 zip code in Illinois is home to 3 schools serving students from early childhood through high school, including 2 elementary schools and 1 high school. While the schools show some areas of strength, such as a relatively high graduation rate at West Central High School, the overall academic performance across the schools is concerning, with consistently low proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to state averages.
The smallest school in the area, West Central Early Childhood, stands out with the highest percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 66.67% and a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 18:1. Meanwhile, West Central High School has a strong 4-year graduation rate of 89.0% and a low dropout rate of 2.4%, but its test scores are significantly below state averages, with only 30.4% of 11th graders proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts and just 6.5% proficient or better in ACT Mathematics.
Across the schools, high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 25.4% at both the elementary and high school levels, may be contributing to the overall academic challenges. Additionally, the significant difference in spending per student between the high school ($16,462) and the early childhood center ($11,858) suggests potential resource allocation concerns that could be impacting student outcomes. These findings indicate a need for a comprehensive review of the West Central CUSD 235 district's strategies and interventions to address the underlying issues and support student success.
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