Illini Central CUSD 189

The Illini Central CUSD 189 district in Illinois serves students from 3 schools - Illini Central Grade School, Illini Central High School, and Illini Central Middle School. The district faces several challenges, including below-average academic performance, particularly at the high school level, high chronic absenteeism rates, and potential equity concerns related to student demographics.

Illini Central Middle School stands out as the top performer in the district, with the highest overall proficiency rates on state assessments and a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate. In contrast, Illini Central High School struggles, with only 16.3% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 7% in Mathematics, well below state averages. The high school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 24.0%, which may be contributing to the lower academic performance.

Across the district, academic performance is generally below state averages, with the elementary and middle schools performing better than the high school. The district also has a relatively high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 9.92% at the elementary school to 43.24% at the high school, suggesting a significant population of economically disadvantaged students. Addressing these challenges, including attendance issues and ensuring equitable access to resources, could be crucial for improving overall student outcomes within the Illini Central CUSD 189 district.