Mount Vernon School District 80

The Mount Vernon School District 80 in Illinois operates three schools: two elementary schools (Dr. Nick Osborne Primary Center and J.L. Buford Intermediate Educational Center) and one middle school (Zadok Casey Middle School). Overall, the district faces significant challenges, with all three schools performing well below state averages on academic measures.

None of the schools in the district are considered standouts, as they all have relatively low test scores compared to state standards. The Dr. Nick Osborne Primary Center has the lowest proficiency rates, with only 13.5% of students proficient or better in ELA and 12.8% in Math. The Zadok Casey Middle School performs slightly better, but still lags the state, with 25.9% proficient in ELA and 9% in Math. The J.L. Buford Intermediate has the highest test scores in the district, but at 22.5% proficient in ELA and 8.1% in Math, these are still far below state averages.

Across the district, there are other concerning trends, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 21.9% to 32.9%, and very high percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, between 76-92%. While per-student spending is relatively high, the schools are clearly struggling to translate these resources into improved academic outcomes for students. Addressing the systemic challenges in the Mount Vernon School District 80 should be a top priority.