The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in English language arts. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Nippersink Middle School
Nippersink Middle School serves grades six through eight in Richmond, a small village in northern McHenry County on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. The school sits on Main Street as part of the village's dispersed school campus, distinct from the historic downtown commercial core. With an enrollment of about mid-range size for a rural middle school, it draws students from the village and surrounding area as part of Nippersink School District 2.
English language arts is the school's academic strength. In the latest state assessment data, sixth-grade proficiency approached two-thirds of students, and seventh and eighth graders both cleared that threshold, with eighth grade performing at a similar level. Science at eighth grade also came in at about that same mark. Mathematics presents a weaker picture. Sixth-grade math proficiency was substantially lower, and seventh grade improved but still fell short of the ELA results. Eighth-grade math held near the sixth-grade level. In comparison to other districts across McHenry County, Nippersink Middle School's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, a meaningful position when measured against county peers. Sixth-grade math and science testing results were not available, likely because those grades are not assessed in those subjects under the state's testing schedule.
The school draws students who are predominantly white, with a small but meaningful share of Hispanic students and only a handful from other racial or ethnic groups. Free and reduced-price lunch counts were not reported, so the economic composition of the student body cannot be determined from available data. Enrollment counts by special populations such as English learners or students on individualized education plans were not disclosed.
Richmond itself is a commuter village with a historic brick downtown and an aging housing stock mixed with newer construction. The median home value has grown modestly, and the local housing market shows moderate supply and demand conditions. The village sits within reach of metropolitan employment but does not have direct public transit; families here generally depend on cars. The local economy includes the school district and village government among its anchors, with retail, services, and some light manufacturing and agriculture in the broader McHenry County picture.
Data on course offerings, staffing, attendance, discipline, or the school's specific instructional approaches were not available, so questions about how the school organizes its day, what support services or programs it offers, or how it handles attendance and behavior should be directed to the school itself. A parent may want to look into the school's specific math support and intervention strategies given the performance gap between ELA and mathematics. The district brief surfaced no recent major policy changes or facility decisions finalized within the reporting window, though the district has discussed long-term facility planning conversations.
See more original research from School Decision →