Pontiac CCSD 429

The Pontiac CCSD 429 district in Illinois serves students from preschool through 8th grade across 4 schools: 3 elementary schools (Central Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and Washington Elementary) and 1 middle school (Pontiac Junior High School). While the district spends more per student than the state average, academic performance varies significantly across the schools, with Lincoln Elementary previously being a top performer but now declining, and Pontiac Junior High consistently ranking among the lowest in the state.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant challenge across the district, ranging from 26.4% at Washington Elementary to 38.9% at Central Elementary. Additionally, all schools have high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Despite the district's higher spending per student and relatively low student-teacher ratios, these factors do not seem to translate into better academic performance, particularly at the lower-performing schools.

The data highlights both strengths and areas for improvement within the Pontiac CCSD 429 district. While resources may not be the primary issue, the district may need to focus on targeted interventions and support to address the persistent challenges of chronic absenteeism, economic disadvantage, and low academic performance, particularly at the lower-performing schools like Pontiac Junior High.