The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 63% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cantrall Elem School
Cantrall Elem School serves pre-kindergarten through third grade in a very small rural village about ten miles north of Springfield. The school's enrollment is modest, with roughly equal cohorts across its grade band. The student population is predominantly white, with small representation of students identifying as multiracial, Hispanic, or Black. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and special-education and English-learner populations were not available; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these enrollment details.
Third-grade state testing data from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness shows math proficiency at a solid level, with a majority of students meeting or exceeding state standards. English language arts proficiency in third grade is lower, sitting noticeably below math. Testing data for fourth grade and above is not available because Cantrall Elem serves only through grade three; students advance to other district schools for middle grades. These results place the school in the top quartile on a composite proficiency measure when compared to other schools in Sangamon County.
Cantrall sits in an economically modest rural area. Housing values in the zip code are below the Illinois state average and substantially below the national average, reflecting the rural setting. The village itself has almost no commercial activity or job base; residents commute to Springfield for work. The community is stable but not growing; the village population has remained essentially flat or declined slightly over the past several years, with no active development projects identified.
The school sits in Athens CUSD 213, a small consolidated district serving communities in Sangamon, Menard, and Logan counties. No recent major district changes such as referenda, curriculum shifts, or facility expansions were found in public record, suggesting a district in steady-state operations without high-profile transitions.
For families in Cantrall and the immediately surrounding rural area, this is a neighborhood elementary school serving the youngest grades with credible proficiency in mathematics and results in literacy that suggest room for growth. The setting is rural and quiet, the peer group is small and locally rooted, and housing is affordable. A parent considering this school should ask the district about transition pathways after third grade and seek direct information on special services and support staffing, since those details are not publicly reported.
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