New Athens CUSD 60

The New Athens CUSD 60 district in Illinois serves students from preschool through 12th grade across 3 schools: New Athens Elementary, New Athens High School, and New Athens Junior High. Overall, the district performs well above the state average, with the elementary and junior high schools standing out as strong performers.

New Athens Junior High is the standout school in the district, consistently ranking in the top 10% of Illinois middle schools and earning a 5-star rating. The school has impressive test scores, with 77.4% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 44.1% in Math. New Athens Elementary also performs well, ranking in the top 25% of Illinois elementary schools with strong test scores, particularly in 3rd grade. In contrast, New Athens High School lags behind, ranking in the middle 50% of Illinois high schools with below-average test scores.

While the district as a whole excels academically, there is a noticeable gap in performance between the elementary/junior high schools and the high school. This may indicate a need to examine the transition process and ensure students are well-prepared for the rigor of high school. Additionally, the higher chronic absenteeism rates, especially at the junior high level, are a concern and could be impacting student learning. The district should investigate the root causes and implement strategies to improve attendance across all grade levels.