Spring Garden CCSD 178

The Spring Garden CCSD 178 district in Illinois consists of two schools: Spring Garden Elementary School and Spring Garden Middle School. While both schools face challenges with low test scores compared to state averages, the middle school appears to be the stronger performer in the district, outpacing the elementary school across several key metrics.

Spring Garden Middle School boasts higher overall proficiency rates in English Language Arts (51.2% vs. 26.1%) and Science (53.8% vs. N/A), as well as better performance in individual grade levels, especially in the upper middle school grades. The middle school also has a higher state-wide ranking, lower chronic absenteeism rate, and lower student-teacher ratio compared to the elementary school. In contrast, Spring Garden Elementary School has seen a decline in its performance over the past three years, with its state-wide ranking dropping from 1,001 out of 2,082 in 2021-2022 to 1,454 out of 2,067 in 2023-2024.

While both schools struggle with low proficiency rates, especially in math, the data suggests that the middle school is doing a better job of supporting student learning and achievement. However, the higher free/reduced lunch rate at the elementary school may indicate socioeconomic challenges that could be impacting student performance. Further investigation into the district's resource allocation and support for high-need schools would be warranted to address these equity concerns and drive improvement efforts across the district.