The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in English language arts. The lowest is 53% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sam Rotolo Middle Sch
Sam Rotolo Middle School serves the three middle grades in Batavia, a city that blends historic downtown riverfront character with active residential growth on its western edge. The school sits on a suburban campus rather than in the downtown core, embedded in a neighborhood setting typical of the district's school placement.
The school enrolls a small-to-mid-sized middle school population across grades six through eight. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of students identifying as Hispanic, Black, Asian, or multiracial. Specific counts for students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, those with IEPs, or English learners were not available in the data provided, so a parent may want to look into those details directly with the school.
On the most recent state assessments, the school shows uneven performance across grades and subjects. In English language arts, the school registers solid achievement in grades six, seven, and eight, with proficiency rates approaching or exceeding the mid-range. Seventh grade performs strongest in ELA. Mathematics tells a different story: sixth grade math proficiency is notably lower, while seventh grade rebounds and eighth grade falls back again. Science results for eighth grade, the only tested level available, sit in the middle range. State testing data for grades three through five were not available, which reflects the fact that Sam Rotolo serves only grades six through eight and state assessments in those lower grades are administered at elementary schools.
When compared to other districts serving Kane County, Sam Rotolo's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades lands above the county midpoint, a position that reflects strength in ELA but weaker math performance, particularly in the sixth grade. High test participation rates suggest strong attendance and engagement during assessment windows.
The school operates within Batavia USD 101, a district that has faced significant capacity and facility challenges. Voters rejected a major facilities referendum twice, in November 2022 and again in April 2023, by very narrow margins both times. That referendum would have replaced two aging elementary buildings and renovated the high school. Because both efforts failed, the district's facility needs remain unaddressed, and families in the community have rejected the tax increase that would have accompanied modernization. This context shapes the district's ongoing decisions about school operations and any future bond asks, and is relevant for a parent considering a move to Batavia and enrolling in the district.
Batavia itself is undergoing active residential growth, particularly on the west side and at former industrial sites. Several large subdivisions are under development or recently launched, including Pulte Homes projects at former manufacturing locations and an affordable housing development planned near the riverfront. Housing values in the area sit above the state benchmark, reflecting the community's appeal and growth trajectory. The city's downtown along the Fox River serves as its civic anchor, with a Riverwalk, historic limestone buildings repurposed into restaurants and shops, and regular festivals, while retail and school campuses sit in surrounding residential and suburban areas.
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