The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Apollo Elem School
Apollo Elementary is a small school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Aledo, a county seat in western Illinois. The school enrollment sits in the lower hundreds, distributed fairly evenly across its grade band with slightly larger cohorts in second and fourth grades.
The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the demographic composition of the community. Racial and ethnic diversity is limited, with modest representation from students of color. Data on free or reduced price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner status were not available in the records reviewed.
In academic performance, the school shows a mixed picture across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, third, fourth, and fifth graders demonstrated moderate proficiency, with rates in the mid-to-upper range. Mathematics performance is more concerning. Third grade math proficiency sits around the midpoint, but fourth and fifth grade show substantially lower proficiency rates, roughly a quarter of students meeting the standard or above. Fifth grade science proficiency is just above the midpoint. These results position the school's overall proficiency index in the top quartile relative to the other districts in Mercer County, though this reflects the performance of a small county peer group rather than a statewide or national standing.
The Illinois state testing system changed cut scores across subjects in the 2024-25 school year, which means year-to-year comparison of results is not straightforward. A parent interested in Apollo should request clarification from the school about how current results reflect the revised assessment standards.
Apollo is part of Mercer County School District 404. The district recently implemented community eligibility for school meals, meaning all enrolled students receive breakfast and lunch at no charge regardless of household income, a straightforward financial benefit for families. However, voters rejected a bond referendum in April 2025 to address long-standing facility and security needs at Mercer County High School, including a secure visitor entrance, cafeteria expansion, HVAC upgrades, and classroom renovation. While this directly affects the high school, the failed referendum signals that facility improvement and capital investment in the district remain constrained for the foreseeable future.
Aledo itself is a small historic county seat experiencing measured revitalization. The downtown district anchors civic life around Central Park and a walkable core of historic buildings, restaurants, and shops. A major adaptive reuse project converting the former junior high school into workforce housing apartments is underway, with construction expected to begin in early 2026. The city received a state Rebuild Illinois grant for downtown improvements including a new pedestrian plaza and infrastructure upgrades. Housing values in the area are accessible relative to statewide and national benchmarks, and the town draws workers and visitors to county government services, a hospital, and nursing facilities. The broader Quad Cities region is within commuting distance for families seeking more diverse employment and amenities.
A parent evaluating Apollo should look into the school's specific strategies for addressing the mathematics performance gap in upper elementary grades, seek details about any tutoring, intervention, or remedial programs available, and understand how the school approaches differentiated instruction in a small setting. The school's demographic composition and rural setting are straightforward characteristics; whether that environment fits your family is a matter of preference rather than performance.
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