Best Public Schools in Steger, IL

The city of Steger, Illinois is home to two schools - Columbia Central School, a middle school, and Steger Intermediate Center, an elementary school. Both schools serve a socioeconomically disadvantaged student population, with very high free and reduced lunch rates exceeding 80%.

Of the two schools, Columbia Central School stands out as the higher-performing institution. It has significantly higher test scores in English Language Arts and Science compared to Steger Intermediate Center, and has shown steady improvement in its statewide ranking, moving from the bottom 25% to the bottom 50% of Illinois middle schools. In contrast, Steger Intermediate Center has struggled, ranking in the bottom 20% of Illinois elementary schools and maintaining a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the performance gap, both schools spend a relatively high amount per student, over $16,000 annually, which raises questions about the efficient allocation of resources and the effectiveness of the Steger School District 194's spending decisions. Understanding the factors contributing to the disparity in academic achievement between the two schools, as well as strategies for improving outcomes for all students, will be crucial for the district moving forward.