The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on West Jr High School
West Jr High School is a middle school serving seventh and eighth grade students in Belleville, a county-seat city in southwestern Illinois near St. Louis. The school enrolls a modestly sized cohort, split roughly evenly between the two grades, with a racial and ethnic makeup that is predominantly Black, with a meaningful white enrollment and smaller Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. Demographic data on free- and reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available, and the school's data on special education enrollment was also not provided.
In terms of academic performance, the school shows a clear strength in English language arts and a significant weakness in mathematics. On state assessments, seventh and eighth graders achieved proficiency rates in ELA that were substantially above the midpoint for schools in St. Clair County, with majorities of students meeting proficiency standards. Science proficiency in eighth grade was moderate, at roughly one-third of students meeting standards. Mathematics results, however, were markedly low: both seventh and eighth grade proficiency rates were around one-fifth, well below typical expectations and substantially below the county median. The proficiency index pooling results across tested subjects and grades placed the school below the midpoint among its county's other districts.
The testing data comes from Illinois state assessments administered in the most recent school year, and participation rates were near complete. One important context: Illinois recently implemented significant cut-score changes in its proficiency benchmarks, which means year-to-year comparisons of proficiency rates are not straightforward. The school's own trajectory over multiple years could not be assessed from the available data.
Belleville itself is a working-class and middle-class mixed-use county seat with a historic downtown core, proximity to Scott Air Force Base, and significant healthcare and government employment. Housing in the zip code where West Jr High is located is moderately affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with median home values in the mid-range for the region and rents modestly below state averages. The broader St. Clair County housing market has shown increased inventory and activity. The district is also benefiting from a notably strong recent surge in assessed property values, which district officials have stated allows them to lower property tax rates while maintaining operating revenue—a financial stability factor that may be meaningful to families considering the area.
No information was available on course offerings, academic programs, staffing ratios, school discipline policies, or attendance patterns at this school, limiting what can be said about the learning environment beyond test scores. School websites with additional detail were not provided in the available data. For families drawn to the area by housing affordability or by jobs at Scott Air Force Base or in regional healthcare, a conversation with the school about its math instruction and support systems would be warranted, given the significant gap between ELA and math performance.
See more original research from School Decision →