The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ulysses S Grant Intermediate Sch
Ulysses S Grant Intermediate School serves students in grades four and five in Marengo, a small city in southwestern McHenry County. The school sits on East Grant Highway and is part of Marengo-Union Elementary Consolidated District 165, which consolidates several smaller elementary districts under one umbrella.
This is a compact school. Enrollment sits at a modest level, with roughly equal numbers of fourth and fifth graders. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic enrollment representing about a third of the school. The school's demographic composition reflects the broader Marengo area, which has seen steady residential growth over recent years with new home construction across multiple price points and subdivisions.
State assessment results reveal academic performance that sits below the midpoint among the county's school districts. In fourth grade, proficiency in both math and English language arts is in the low-to-mid range. Fifth grade shows a steeper decline: math proficiency drops notably, while English language arts performance remains in the low-to-mid range. Science proficiency in fifth grade is particularly low. The school had strong test participation rates, suggesting that absences or opt-outs were not a factor in these results. A parent may want to ask the school directly about what supports are in place for students who are not yet proficient and whether any targeted interventions have been launched in response to these patterns, especially in the upper grade band.
The comparison positioning is clear: across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in McHenry County. This is a factual position; it does not speak to the school's effort or intent, only to where students are measuring against state standards.
The school serves grades four and five only. State testing in Illinois does not assess grade three, and grades six and eight results are either not yet available or do not apply to this school's enrollment. No data on special education enrollment, English learner services, or free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility were available from the state reporting.
Marengo itself is a walkable small city with a compact downtown core along Grant Highway, historic neighborhoods, and newer suburban development spreading into prairie and farmland. The town is car-dependent outside its downtown, with no local public transit. Civic life anchors around the downtown commercial strip and the Marengo Park District. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks, with steady new-home construction marketed to families seeking affordable proximity to Chicago via I-90. The local economy draws from manufacturing, retail, and health care employment, with some logistics and distribution activity.
No recent district-wide policy changes, curriculum shifts, or major referendum activities could be confirmed that would affect parents' immediate planning.
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