Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 61443

The 61443 zip code in Illinois is home to two middle schools: Central Elementary and Central Junior High, both serving students in grades 6-8 and part of the Kewanee CUSD 229 district.

Based on the data, Central Junior High appears to be the standout school, with consistently higher test scores, particularly in English Language Arts, and a higher statewide ranking compared to the district and state averages. While both schools have high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Central Junior High has a slightly lower rate. However, both schools struggle with high chronic absenteeism rates, significantly exceeding the state average, which likely impacts student learning and achievement.

In terms of academic performance, Central Elementary lags behind Central Junior High, particularly in math, where only 24.7% of students were proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to 30.5% for the district and 38.5% for the state. Both schools also underperform the state average in science proficiency. Despite the differences in performance, both schools have relatively high per-student spending, with Central Junior High spending slightly more per student than Central Elementary.