Summary:
The 62838 zip code is home to a single public high school, South Central High School, which serves grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 195 students. The school is part of the South Central CUD 401 district, which is ranked 713 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
South Central High School faces significant academic challenges, with consistently low test scores across all subjects and grade levels compared to state averages. For example, in 11th grade ACT/English Language Arts, the school scored 28.6% proficient or better, compared to the state average of 51.7%. The school's math scores are particularly low, with only 11.4% of 11th graders scoring proficient or better on the ACT/Mathematics, compared to the state average of 39.3%. Despite these academic struggles, the school has a relatively high spending per student ($14,951) and a low student-teacher ratio of 10.7 to 1.
Additionally, the school serves a high-poverty population, with over 54% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This high poverty level may contribute to the academic challenges faced by the school. The school's statewide ranking has also declined, dropping from 342 out of 697 Illinois high schools in 2023-2024 to 535 out of 698 in 2024-2025, suggesting a potential decline in performance over time. Addressing these issues will likely require a comprehensive approach that considers the school's resource allocation, teaching practices, and the socioeconomic factors affecting the student population.
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