Summary:
The 62521 zip code area of Decatur, Illinois is home to 4 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. While these schools face significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance on state assessments, a few standout institutions show promise for improvement.
The top-performing school in the area is Michael E Baum Elementary School, which has the highest proficiency rates in both English Language Arts (23.6%) and Mathematics (13.7%) across all grades. It also boasts the strongest individual grade-level performance, such as 32.4% proficiency in 6th grade ELA and 25.6% in 4th grade Math. Additionally, Michael E Baum has the highest state-wide ranking among the 4 schools, placing 1792 out of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. The second-highest performer is American Dreamer STEM Academy, which stands out for its relatively strong 8th grade performance, with 28.9% proficient or better in ELA and 5.3% in Math.
Despite these bright spots, the schools in the 62521 zip code area face significant challenges. All 4 schools have high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 25.4%, and high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 71.57% to 80.52%. Additionally, the schools perform significantly below the state averages on state assessments, suggesting the need for targeted interventions and support to address the underlying socioeconomic factors that may be contributing to their low academic performance. However, the data also indicates that with the right strategies, these schools have the potential to improve and better serve the students and families in the Decatur School District 61.
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