Original Research by School Decision on Il Youth Center - Pere Marquette
Illinois Youth Center - Pere Marquette is an alternative school serving grades eight through twelve, located on State Highway 100 West in Grafton. It is operated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice School District 428 inside a state juvenile correctional facility. The school is not a traditional residential enrollment district; families do not enroll by address. It serves students within the facility's population.
The school currently serves a small cohort of students. The enrollment reflects a majority Black student body with a smaller white student population. Specific enrollment figures and free-or-reduced-price-lunch data are available in the enrollment section of this profile, along with the current grade-level distribution.
State assessment data for Illinois schools includes results from the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) in mathematics and English language arts across tested grade levels. For this school, state testing results were not reported. This absence of data is typical for alternative and special-population schools operating within correctional or residential treatment settings, where student populations are often exempt from or do not participate in statewide standardized testing in the same way traditional public schools do. A parent or guardian seeking to understand this school's academic approach, curriculum, or instructional quality would need to contact the school directly, as standardized test reporting does not capture the school's operations.
Grafton itself is a small riverfront city at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, situated along the Great River Road scenic corridor. The city's economy centers on tourism, river recreation, wineries, and seasonal attractions including bald-eagle watching and nearby Pere Marquette State Park. Population has grown modestly in recent years from earlier lows, with housing values rising and new residential construction evident since the 2010s. The median home value in the Grafton area is somewhat below the state benchmark. The local elementary school is situated at a separate campus away from the downtown Main Street core, which concentrates civic and commercial life along the riverfront.
The Illinois Youth Center - Pere Marquette operates as part of a state correctional education system rather than a traditional school district available to families in the community. Questions about curriculum, program services, educational pathways for students in state custody, transition planning, or other operational details should be directed to the school or the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.
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