The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Jr High School
Central Junior High School serves grades seven and eight in Belleville, Illinois, a St. Clair County seat and southeastern St. Louis suburb with a mixed-use economy anchored by Scott Air Force Base, healthcare, education, and government. The school draws from a community of primary residential neighborhoods, commercial historic downtown, and outer retail corridors, with civic anchors including the Belleville Public Library, the historic Lincoln Theatre, and MetroLink light rail connections to St. Louis.
The school's enrollment is small, distributed nearly evenly across its two grade levels. The student body reflects the city's demographic composition: roughly equal shares of white and Black students, with smaller populations of Hispanic and multiracial students, and very few Asian students. Free-and-reduced-price lunch rates and English learner counts were not available in the data, as were special education enrollment figures.
State testing data for 2024-25 shows a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, Central performs respectably. Seventh graders achieved proficiency at a level below what one might see in higher-performing districts, while eighth graders performed notably better, reaching proficiency at a rate closer to two-thirds of the grade. The school's overall proficiency index in English language arts and tested subjects positions it above the midpoint among St. Clair County's districts.
Mathematics proficiency at Central is the clearer soft spot. Both seventh and eighth grade students showed proficiency rates in the low to mid-range, with around three in ten students meeting state standards. This gap between reading and math performance is substantial and a parent may want to look into further with the school, particularly if mathematics support is a priority for their child. Science proficiency in eighth grade was moderate, around four in ten students meeting standards.
Participation rates on state assessments were strong across grades and subjects, hovering near or above ninety-five percent, indicating the school administered tests to nearly all enrolled students. The data reflects recent cuts to proficiency standards across Illinois assessments, making year-to-year comparisons unreliable, so trend lines are not available.
No graduation rate applies to a junior high school. Chronic absenteeism data, school discipline records, advanced coursework offerings, and detailed staffing information were not available. The school's website address was not provided in the available data.
Belleville School District 118 is experiencing a significant shift in its tax base. A recent surge in property values—the largest increase in assessed value in nearly two decades—allows the district to lower tax rates while maintaining operating revenue, a meaningful financial advantage for families considering the area. This stability in school funding, combined with Central's location in a walkable historic downtown with access to regional transit, creates a specific context: a junior high in a stable tax environment, serving a diverse student body, with readable strength in reading instruction and notable opportunity in mathematics support.
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