The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 38% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Seth Whitman Elem Sch
Seth Whitman Elementary serves early elementary through fifth grade in Belvidere, a small manufacturing city in Boone County about 75 miles northwest of Chicago. The school enrolls a moderate number of students across its span, with a student body that is majority white and Latino, and a smaller share of Black, Asian, and multiracial students.
The school's test results on Illinois state assessments show proficiency rates below the midpoint. In third grade math, less than half of students tested at proficiency. Fourth grade shows a similar pattern in math, while fourth grade English language arts is the school's strongest showing, with a moderate share proficient. Fifth grade results across both math and English language arts remain modest, as does fifth grade science. The school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Boone County, but the absolute numbers reflect a student population where many pupils are not yet meeting state standards. A parent may want to look into further with the school what supports exist for students who are not yet proficient and what pathways the school offers to help close those gaps.
State testing is available only for grades three through five at this school; the school does not serve middle or high school grades, so state assessments for older grades do not apply here. The school had full participation in all tested subjects and grades, and Illinois changed the proficiency cutoff scores across subjects starting with this school year, so year-to-year trend data is not yet available.
The school sits in a city experiencing economic shifts tied to the major Stellantis automotive plant that was idled in early 2023 but announced a major reopening in October 2025, expected to bring employment back by 2027. Belvidere's housing market is modest in price relative to the state and national benchmarks. The downtown core is walkable and hosts civic events, while the city spreads outward through gridded neighborhoods of older homes and newer subdivisions on the edges. Parks, schools, and community facilities are woven into the city layout rather than concentrated in one place.
At the district level, Belvidere CUSD 100 has undergone a significant consolidation. In April 2026 the board voted to close Perry Elementary at the end of the 2025-26 school year after more than a half-century of operation. Current Perry families are using a lottery system to choose among other elementary schools, including Seth Whitman, Lincoln, and Washington Academy. This closure reflects declining enrollment pressure across the district. The district also implemented a new phone and device policy starting in 2025-26 in which elementary students must keep devices in lockers all day, reshaping both classroom culture and how families communicate with students during the school day.
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