Summary:
The 62814 zip code area is home to two elementary schools - Bluford Grade School and Farrington Elementary School. While both schools serve students in the same geographic region, the data reveals a significant performance gap between the two, with Farrington Elementary emerging as the standout institution.
Farrington Elementary consistently outperforms Bluford Grade School and the state averages across key metrics such as test scores, student-teacher ratios, and per-student spending. In the 2024-2025 school year, 59.4% of Farrington students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to just 39.4% at Bluford and the 53.1% state average. Similarly, Farrington's math proficiency rate was 43.8%, well above the 19.4% at Bluford and the 38.5% statewide. Farrington's strong performance extends to prior years as well, with the school ranking in the top half of Illinois elementary schools in recent years.
Despite the disparity in academic outcomes, both Bluford Unit School District 318 and Farrington CCSD 99 face the challenge of high chronic absenteeism rates, with over 25% of students at each school chronically absent in 2024-2025. Additionally, both schools serve communities with a significant proportion of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting socioeconomic factors may play a role in the observed performance gaps. Understanding the specific drivers behind Farrington's success could provide valuable insights to improve educational outcomes across all schools in the 62814 zip code area.
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