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Shepherd Middle School

Summary:

Shepherd Middle School is a public middle school located in Ottawa, Illinois, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 389 students. The school is part of the Ottawa Education Service District 141, which is ranked 441 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Shepherd Middle School faces several challenges, including lower-than-average academic performance, declining performance over time, significant disparities in subgroup performance, and high chronic absenteeism. The school's performance on standardized tests is generally below the state and district averages, with only 38.7% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 14.1% in Mathematics, compared to 41.2% and 28.4% statewide, respectively. The school's performance has been declining over the past few years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 586 out of 1,241 middle schools in 2020-2021 to 793 out of 1,363 in 2023-2024. Additionally, the school has a high chronic absenteeism rate, which has been increasing from 8.3% in 2019-2020 to 23.5% in 2023-2024.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Parkside Middle School and Seneca Elementary School South Campus, Shepherd Middle School's performance is significantly lower. The school also faces significant disparities in subgroup performance, with a proficiency rate of 43.7% in English Language Arts for Hispanic students, compared to only 1.0% for White students, and a proficiency rate of just 2.0% in both English Language Arts and Mathematics for students with disabilities.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 701 E McKinley Rd
       Ottawa, IL  61350-4811

(815) 433-1133

District: Ottawa Education Service District 141

SchoolDigger Rank:
793rd of 1,363 Illinois Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,089 Help


Students who attend Shepherd Middle School usually attend:

High:    Ottawa Township High School

Feeder schools for Shepherd Middle School:

Elementary:    Jefferson Elementary School
    Lincoln Elementary School
    McKinley Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  389

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.1%
Hispanic:
15.2%
Two or more races:
6.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  52.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Shepherd Middle School ranks worse than 58.2% of middle schools in Illinois. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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
Teachers
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Shepherd Middle School is $18,089.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Shepherd Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Shepherd Middle School 793rd of 1363 Illinois public middle schools. (See Shepherd Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Ottawa Education Service District 141:

SchoolDigger ranks Ottawa Education Service District 141 441st of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Shepherd Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 44.99 727th 1185 38.6%
2004 49.27 696th 1204 42.2%
2005 59.23 588th 1209 51.4%
2006 60.37 569th 1272 55.3%
2007 62.41 564th 1287 56.2%
2008 66.78 479th 1293 63.0%
2009 56.87 673rd 1318 48.9%
2010 60.73 600th 1327 54.8%
2011 56.49 680th 1344 49.4%
2012 35.76 982nd 1365 28.1%
2013 47.86 731st 1367 46.5%
2014 43.83 766th 1322 42.1%
2015 56.15 472nd 1302 63.7%
2016 53.10 542nd 1294 58.1%
2017 38.97 762nd 1293 41.1%
2018 48.44 624th 1293 51.7%
2019 49.22 628th 1356 53.7%
2021 44.84 586th 1241 52.8%
2022 40.98 735th 1369 46.3%
2023 35.01 844th 1367 38.3%
2024 37.00 793rd 1363 41.8%
See the entire list of Illinois Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 21.35 152nd 194 21.6%
2024 22.24 136th 184 26.1%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.52 231st 602 61.6%
2019 35.38 456th 792 42.4%
2021 38.48 292nd 548 46.7%
2022 26.83 734th 781 6.0%
2023 27.38 604th 805 25.0%
2024 32.90 495th 802 38.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.50 534th 1161 54.0%
2019 48.94 575th 1217 52.8%
2021 41.16 564th 1019 44.7%
2022 43.44 626th 1221 48.7%
2023 41.66 683rd 1234 44.7%
2024 41.40 679th 1219 44.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.67 612th 1226 50.1%
2019 48.53 621st 1276 51.3%
2021 37.26 588th 1017 42.2%
2022 39.58 724th 1286 43.7%
2023 35.52 779th 1275 38.9%
2024 34.91 774th 1251 38.1%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 27.73 521st 674 22.7%
2024 40.11 325th 639 49.1%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.16 610th 1223 50.1%
2019 49.33 590th 1296 54.5%
2021 46.84 475th 1048 54.7%
2022 42.21 662nd 1286 48.5%
2023 34.25 805th 1292 37.7%
2024 38.47 705th 1264 44.2%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 48.00 239th 565 57.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.32 407th 590 31.0%
2019 29.34 486th 639 23.9%
2021 27.57 408th 517 21.1%
2022 40.26 376th 662 43.2%
2023 41.63 355th 661 46.3%
2024 31.97 437th 643 32.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Shepherd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.63 602nd 889 32.3%
2019 33.77 607th 905 32.9%
2021 35.30 510th 813 37.3%
2022 24.71 707th 898 21.3%
2023 18.01 791st 895 11.6%
2024 23.23 697th 875 20.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle 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.

Shepherd Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for Shepherd Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 407 1 4 8 n/a n/a n/a 0 420
1989 354 5 6 12 n/a n/a n/a 0 377
1990 394 6 4 14 n/a n/a n/a 0 418
1991 455 3 2 3 0 n/a n/a 0 463
1992 458 5 0 9 0 n/a n/a 0 472
1993 485 9 6 13 1 n/a n/a 0 514
1994 479 7 3 19 1 n/a n/a 0 509
1995 435 5 10 20 1 n/a n/a 0 471
1996 435 5 10 20 1 n/a n/a 0 471
1997 448 13 4 17 2 n/a n/a 0 484
1998 475 19 5 12 1 n/a n/a 0 512
1999 524 13 1 11 1 n/a n/a 0 550
2000 477 6 4 13 1 n/a n/a 0 501
2001 447 9 7 24 1 n/a n/a 0 488
2002 499 17 2 23 2 n/a n/a 0 543
2003 499 17 2 23 2 n/a n/a 0 543
2004 466 14 2 28 3 n/a n/a 0 513
2005 470 13 2 25 3 n/a n/a 13 526
2006 411 13 1 31 4 n/a n/a 14 474
2007 372 13 2 28 4 n/a n/a 25 444
2008 377 14 4 26 2 n/a n/a 26 449
2009 375 18 3 34 5 n/a n/a 19 454
2010 352 14 3 26 6 n/a n/a 12 413
2011 350 11 4 41 1 0 8 0 415
2012 351 11 2 41 4 0 8 0 417
2013 347 15 6 43 7 1 9 0 428
2014 369 15 5 63 5 1 20 0 478
2015 355 18 3 62 5 0 22 0 465
2016 329 7 5 55 4 0 16 0 416
2017 320 11 4 54 4 0 14 0 407
2018 319 19 1 52 4 0 18 0 413
2019 318 18 1 63 3 0 14 0 417
2020 302 11 3 62 5 0 12 0 395
2021 306 11 2 60 1 0 14 0 394
2022 287 11 0 71 0 0 16 0 385
2023 292 13 1 59 0 0 24 0 389

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 Shepherd Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 420 24.3 17.2 n/a
1989 377 25.2 14.9 n/a
1990 418 25.0 16.7 n/a
1991 463 28.7 16.1 n/a
1992 472 28.6 16.5 n/a
1993 514 33.3 15.4 n/a
1994 509 33.0 15.4 n/a
1995 471 32.0 14.7 n/a
1996 471 32.0 14.7 n/a
1997 484 34.0 14.2 n/a
1998 512 34.0 15.1 n/a
1999 550 32.0 17.2 n/a
2000 501 32.0 15.7 n/a
2001 488 35.0 13.9 n/a
2002 543 35.0 15.5 23.6
2003 543 35.0 15.5 23.6
2004 513 36.0 14.3 28.7
2005 526 32.0 16.4 31.8
2006 474 33.0 14.4 31.5
2007 444 26.0 17.1 37.9
2008 449 26.0 17.3 37.6
2009 454 33.6 13.5 35.2
2010 413 31.6 13.0 40.9
2011 415 32.1 12.9 43.1
2012 417 35.0 11.9 43.2
2013 428 49.9 8.5 42.5
2014 478 35.0 13.6 45.8
2015 465 34.0 13.6 53.5
2016 416 32.0 13.0 51.7
2017 407 30.5 13.3 47.7
2018 413 31.0 13.2 50.1
2019 417 31.5 13.2 51.3
2020 395 31.0 12.7 48.4
2021 394 n/a n/a n/a
2022 385 34.5 11.1 46.2
2023 389 31.5 12.3 52.7

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 Shepherd Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 420 24.3 17.2 n/a
1989 377 25.2 14.9 n/a
1990 418 25.0 16.7 n/a
1991 463 28.7 16.1 n/a
1992 472 28.6 16.5 n/a
1993 514 33.3 15.4 n/a
1994 509 33.0 15.4 n/a
1995 471 32.0 14.7 n/a
1996 471 32.0 14.7 n/a
1997 484 34.0 14.2 n/a
1998 512 34.0 15.1 n/a
1999 550 32.0 17.2 n/a
2000 501 32.0 15.7 n/a
2001 488 35.0 13.9 n/a
2002 543 35.0 15.5 23.6
2003 543 35.0 15.5 23.6
2004 513 36.0 14.3 28.7
2005 526 32.0 16.4 31.8
2006 474 33.0 14.4 31.5
2007 444 26.0 17.1 37.9
2008 449 26.0 17.3 37.6
2009 454 33.6 13.5 35.2
2010 413 31.6 13.0 40.9
2011 415 32.1 12.9 43.1
2012 417 35.0 11.9 43.2
2013 428 49.9 8.5 42.5
2014 478 35.0 13.6 45.8
2015 465 34.0 13.6 53.5
2016 416 32.0 13.0 51.7
2017 407 30.5 13.3 47.7
2018 413 31.0 13.2 50.1
2019 417 31.5 13.2 51.3
2020 395 31.0 12.7 48.4
2021 394 n/a n/a n/a
2022 385 34.5 11.1 46.2
2023 389 31.5 12.3 52.7

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.

Immunization Rates

Shepherd Middle School

Help
Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaHepatitis BVaricellaDTPMeningococcal
201599.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%
201699.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%
201798.1%98.1%98.1%98.1%98.3%98.1%98.8%47.6%
201899.3%99.1%99.1%99.1%99.5%98.6%99.5%98.6%
201999.5%99.3%99.3%99.3%99.5%99.1%99.5%98.8%
202199.8%99.8%99.8%99.8%100.0%100.0%100.0%99.5%
202299.2%99.5%99.5%99.5%99.2%99.5%99.5%98.5%
202399.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%
202499.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%99.2%98.2%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Shepherd Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $689 (5.3%) $12,255 (94.7%) $12,944
2020 $718 (5.5%) $12,255 (94.5%) $12,973
2021 $832 (5.9%) $13,268 (94.1%) $14,100
2022 $832 (5.9%) $13,268 (94.1%) $14,100
2023 $3,597 (17.2%) $17,366 (82.8%) $20,964
2024 $1,144 (6.3%) $16,945 (93.7%) $18,089

Data source: Illinois Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Shepherd Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 628th of 1356 Middle schoolsRanks 844th of 1367 Middle schools
 15.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Shepherd Middle School)3325.2
 7.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Ottawa Education Service District 141)3325.2
 7.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)41.237.9
 3.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Shepherd Middle School)28.713
 15.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Ottawa Education Service District 141)28.713
 15.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.926.9
 3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Shepherd Middle School)25.931.4
 5.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Ottawa Education Service District 141)25.931.4
 5.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)39.640.5
 0.9%
8th Grade Mathematics (Shepherd Middle School)25.511.2
 14.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Ottawa Education Service District 141)25.511.2
 14.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)32.625.7
 6.9%
8th Grade Science (Shepherd Middle School)6046
 14%
   8th Grade Science (Ottawa Education Service District 141)6046
 14%
   8th Grade Science (Illinois)5552
 3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students417389
 6.7%
African American1813
 27.8%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian11
Hispanic6359
 6.3%
Pacific Islander00
White318292
 8.2%
Two or More Races1424
 71.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients51.3%52.7%
 1.4%

Schools Near Shepherd Middle School








Frequently Asked Questions about Shepherd Middle School

In the 2022-23 school year, 389 students attended Shepherd Middle School.

Students who attend Shepherd Middle School usually go on to attend Ottawa Township High School

Shepherd Middle School ranks 793rd of 1363 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Shepherd Middle School are 75% White, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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