Schools in Zip Code 61882

Zip code 61882 (Weldon, IL) is served by two public schools, Deland-Weldon Elementary School (grades PK-5) and Deland-Weldon Middle School (grades 6-8), both part of the Deland-Weldon CUSD 57 district, with no high school available in the area.

The standout school is Deland-Weldon Elementary School, which earns a 3-star rating and has shown steady improvement over the past three years, reaching the 58th percentile statewide. It outperforms the middle school significantly in both English Language Arts (55.3% proficiency vs. 28.6%) and Math (34.2% vs. 21.4%). In contrast, Deland-Weldon Middle School is a major concern, holding a 1-star rating and ranking in the bottom 20% of Illinois middle schools. The district spends over $21,700 per student at the middle school, yet academic results are poor, including a 0% proficiency rate in 8th-grade Math. Both schools serve a high percentage of low-income students (58% at the elementary level, 53.57% at the middle school) and have very low student-teacher ratios (8.5:1 and 6.8:1, respectively), which typically allow for individualized attention but are not translating into success at the middle school level.

The most critical finding is a dramatic academic decline between elementary and middle school, often called a "middle school cliff." While the elementary school's ELA proficiency exceeds the state average, the middle school's rate drops by nearly half. Math proficiency also falls sharply, with 4th-grade Math at just 20% and 8th-grade Math at 0%. This suggests a systemic issue in instruction or student support during the transition to middle school. The district's overall 2-star rating is likely pulled down by the middle school's struggles, making it essential for parents to investigate the middle school's programs and support systems closely if considering this area for their children.