The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 55% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Locust Elem School
Locust Elementary serves the youngest grades in Marengo, a growing small city in southwestern McHenry County. The school enrolls a diverse student body across pre-K through grade three, sitting within a district that spans the local area. About three of every five students identify as white, with the remainder split largely between Hispanic and other groups. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available in the public record, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the economic profile of its families.
The school's state test results show mixed performance. In third grade math, where state testing begins in Illinois, roughly two-thirds of students scored at or above proficiency. English language arts results in third grade were weaker, with about half of students reaching proficiency. The school's overall proficiency rate places it in the top quartile among McHenry County districts, a meaningful strength. Beyond third grade, state testing results were not available for this school, likely reflecting the early-elementary span it serves.
The enrollment sits at roughly five hundred students, distributed fairly evenly across the grade band, with the largest cohort in grade one. The school's building is located on Locust Street in Marengo's residential grid, not far from the compact downtown core along Grant Highway where the library and civic services cluster. Marengo itself is a car-dependent small city with a walkable downtown but no local public transit; families rely on personal vehicles or state highways to reach destinations beyond town. Housing values in the area have appreciated modestly over the past year, and new residential construction continues as part of steady population growth. Listings show active development in multiple subdivisions, with national builders marketing the area for its proximity to Chicago via I-90.
The district brief turned up no major recent curriculum shifts, building projects, or tax actions with lasting parent impact over the past several years. A regional reorganization feasibility study involving neighboring districts exists, but it has not resulted in a binding vote or consolidation. A parent weighing this school should ask the district about any strategic planning underway and connect with current families to understand the day-to-day environment, program breadth, and support systems the school offers in its early-grade focus.
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