Central CUSD 3

The Central CUSD 3 school district in Illinois serves 4 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. While the district's high school, Central High School, is a standout performer, the middle and elementary schools appear to be struggling, with lower proficiency rates on state assessments compared to state averages.

Central High School consistently ranks among the top 25% of high schools in Illinois, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school has strong academic performance, with over 50% of 11th graders proficient or better in math and over 34% proficient in English Language Arts on the SAT. In contrast, Central Junior High School and Central 3-4 Middle School have lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math on the IAR assessments compared to state averages.

Across the district, 37-42% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively high level of economic disadvantage. This may contribute to the performance gaps observed and should be considered when evaluating the schools' results. The district could focus improvement efforts on raising proficiency in math and English Language Arts at the middle and elementary school levels, as well as addressing chronic absenteeism district-wide, while also leveraging the strengths of Central High School to drive improvement across all grade levels.