The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Harding Primary School
Harding Primary School serves grades two and three in Monmouth, a small Western Illinois city about sixty miles northwest of Peoria. The school is part of Monmouth-Roseville CUSD 238.
Harding enrolls a moderately sized student body of roughly equal distribution between second and third grade. The enrollment is diverse: the student population is about half white, with a meaningful presence of Hispanic students and smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial families. Socioeconomic data such as free-and-reduced-price-lunch eligibility rates and English learner counts were not available in the data provided. Special education enrollment rates were also not reported. Without these figures, a full picture of student support needs remains incomplete.
For academics, the school administered Illinois state assessments in math and English language arts to third graders in the most recent school year, with all tested students participating. In math, roughly one-third of third graders scored at proficient or advanced levels; in English language arts, the figure was similar. These results sit above the midpoint when compared against the other districts in Warren County, though the proficiency levels themselves are modest. Second-grade students at Harding do not take state assessments, as state testing begins in grade three in Illinois. The school does not serve higher grades, so no data exists for fourth grade and above.
The most recent Illinois assessment results are subject to a notable caveat: the state changed cut scores for proficiency in math, English, and science starting in the school year tested, so trends from prior years cannot be directly compared. A parent interested in whether performance has changed over time would need to check with the school directly, as multi-year trend data accounting for this shift was not available.
Monmouth itself is a working-class community with a college-town character centered on a historic downtown square. Smithfield Foods is the largest employer, followed by Monmouth College. The town has experienced modest population decline but has been pursuing new housing development and downtown infrastructure investment. Housing values in the Monmouth area are well below the state and national averages and are considered affordable relative to median household incomes. The Monmouth Park District maintains several free public parks, and the downtown core includes a restored historic theatre and brick-paved pedestrian walkway lined with shops and restaurants.
For parents considering Harding, the school offers early-elementary instruction in a small town setting with some demographic diversity. The proficiency results on state testing are below state averages and warrant direct conversation with school staff about curriculum, support for students below proficiency, and school-level initiatives to strengthen core academics. The school's small, grade-band specific size means a different transition experience than larger K-8 or unified buildings. No data was available on school programs, class sizes, disciplinary practices, attendance, staffing, or specialized offerings beyond core instruction, so further inquiry with the school and district would be necessary for parents seeking detail on those aspects.
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