West Central High School

Summary:

West Central High School is a public high school located in Biggsville, Illinois, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 199 students. The school is part of the West Central CUSD 235 district, which is ranked 765 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West Central High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Illinois high schools, with a ranking between 424 and 563 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state averages, with only 4% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT Mathematics and 10% in SAT English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 26.1% and 31.1%, respectively. In comparison, Monmouth-Roseville High School had significantly higher proficiency rates. West Central High School's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 72.1% and 84.9%, which is lower than the state average, and its dropout rate has been higher than the state average, ranging from 1.2% to 5.4% in recent years.

The school's high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 57.79% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, appears to be a significant factor contributing to its poor academic performance and other challenges. In contrast, United High School and Monmouth-Roseville High School have much higher percentages of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, yet they demonstrate significantly better academic outcomes, graduation rates, and other metrics compared to West Central High School. The school's increasing chronic absenteeism rate, from 18.8% in 2019-2020 to 47.5% in 2021-2022, is also a concerning trend that may be impacting student learning and overall school performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1514 US Route 34
Biggsville, IL 61418-9711

(309) 627-2377

District: West Central CUSD 235

SchoolDigger Rank:
563^rd of 697 Illinois High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,462

Feeder schools for West Central High School:

Elementary:	West Central Elementary School
Middle:	West Central Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.8

Number of students: 206

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.3%

Two or more races:

4.9%

Hispanic:

3.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 62.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details West Central High School ranks worse than 80.8% of high schools in Illinois. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.51. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.3%), two or more races (4.9%), Hispanic (3.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 62.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West Central High School is 11.8. (See more...)

Compare West Central High School employs 17.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Central High School is $16,462.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

West Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks West Central High School 563^rd of 697 Illinois public high schools. (See West Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

White students:

West Central CUSD 235:

SchoolDigger ranks West Central CUSD 235 765^th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for West Central High School

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Rank History for all students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2006	33.94	446^th	596	25.2%
2007	34.79	453^rd	612	26.0%
2008	47.06	382^nd	624	38.8%
2009	20.14	530^th	632	16.1%
2010	44.99	425^th	643	33.9%
2011	48.00	393^rd	655	40.0%
2012	53.85	354^th	665	46.8%
2013	64.69	257^th	670	61.6%
2014	43.54	424^th	670	36.7%
2015	21.34	500^th	614	18.6%
2016	28.34	478^th	643	25.7%
2017	11.05	576^th	642	10.3%
2018	25.31	500^th	647	22.7%
2019	37.82	446^th	701	36.4%
2021	30.15	472^nd	688	31.4%
2022	32.40	476^th	699	31.9%
2023	28.24	508^th	699	27.3%
2024	18.51	563^rd	697	19.2%

See the entire list of Illinois High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2019	44.64	169^th	473	64.3%
2022	31.21	286^th	493	42.0%
2024	31.27	284^th	482	41.1%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	31.31	437^th	585	25.3%
2019	40.77	373^rd	639	41.6%
2021	26.40	475^th	611	22.3%
2022	20.60	524^th	626	16.3%
2023	25.88	499^th	644	22.5%
2024	21.53	515^th	639	19.4%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	15.27	538^th	620	13.2%
2019	32.31	451^st	665	32.2%
2021	23.72	478^th	639	25.2%
2022	51.58	303^rd	658	54.0%
2023	25.03	488^th	656	25.6%
2024	15.90	556^th	664	16.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	27.00	261^st	429	39.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	37.79	399^th	619	35.5%
2019	42.99	381^st	675	43.6%
2021	35.05	403^rd	653	38.3%
2022	21.39	529^th	664	20.3%
2023	33.53	452^nd	668	32.3%
2024	23.17	498^th	668	25.4%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at West Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	15.65	495^th	548	9.7%
2019	21.38	464^th	552	15.9%
2021	18.20	475^th	553	14.1%
2022	14.76	518^th	560	7.5%
2023	13.91	516^th	557	7.4%
2024	8.25	541^st	554	2.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for West Central High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2006	328	5	0	0	3	n/a	n/a	1	337
2007	295	3	1	1	2	n/a	n/a	4	306
2008	305	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	3	310
2009	299	1	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	3	308
2010	312	1	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	4	321
2011	293	2	0	6	2	0	4	0	307
2012	293	1	0	8	3	0	5	0	310
2013	275	0	1	8	0	0	7	0	291
2014	284	1	0	6	0	0	7	0	298
2015	252	1	0	7	0	0	8	0	268
2016	251	1	0	9	0	0	9	0	270
2017	241	2	0	5	1	0	6	0	255
2018	222	1	0	9	0	0	9	0	241
2019	217	1	0	4	1	0	9	0	232
2020	222	0	0	3	1	0	7	0	233
2021	213	0	0	4	0	0	9	0	226
2022	196	1	0	3	0	0	7	0	207
2023	187	1	0	4	0	0	7	0	199
2024	188	1	0	7	0	0	10	0	206

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West Central High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	337	25.7	13.1	29.8
2007	306	27.0	11.3	39.4
2008	310	22.0	14.1	43.3
2009	308	25.7	12.0	39.7
2010	321	24.7	12.9	44.8
2011	307	24.7	12.3	40.1
2012	310	23.7	13.0	36.8
2013	291	23.7	12.2	39.2
2014	298	18.8	15.8	45.3
2015	268	20.0	13.4	52.6
2016	270	19.0	14.2	57.4
2017	255	20.5	12.4	50.2
2018	241	17.5	13.7	51
2019	232	20.1	11.5	50.4
2020	233	21.3	10.8	51.9
2021	226	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	207	19.8	10.4	51.2
2023	199	19.0	10.4	57.8
2024	206	17.3	11.8	62.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio West Central High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	337	25.7	13.1	29.8
2007	306	27.0	11.3	39.4
2008	310	22.0	14.1	43.3
2009	308	25.7	12.0	39.7
2010	321	24.7	12.9	44.8
2011	307	24.7	12.3	40.1
2012	310	23.7	13.0	36.8
2013	291	23.7	12.2	39.2
2014	298	18.8	15.8	45.3
2015	268	20.0	13.4	52.6
2016	270	19.0	14.2	57.4
2017	255	20.5	12.4	50.2
2018	241	17.5	13.7	51
2019	232	20.1	11.5	50.4
2020	233	21.3	10.8	51.9
2021	226	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	207	19.8	10.4	51.2
2023	199	19.0	10.4	57.8
2024	206	17.3	11.8	62.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

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