The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stevenson Elem School
Stevenson Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Bloomington, a mid-sized central Illinois city anchored by State Farm Insurance and positioned at the edge of growing regional demand driven by Rivian and Ferrero expansion. The school sits in a district that recently passed a county sales tax for facilities and is actively expanding early childhood and career pathways, positioning itself for the next wave of growth.
Stevenson's enrollment hovers around mid-size for a K-5 elementary, with a student body that is roughly evenly split between white and Black students, with smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch eligibility, special education rates, or English learner counts, so a parent seeking those details would need to contact the school directly.
Academic performance data shows third and fourth grade math at roughly the midpoint and below, with fifth grade math trailing significantly. In English language arts, third grade tracks slightly higher, fourth grade drops to the mid-range, and fifth grade continues the decline. Fifth grade science proficiency falls in the low range. These patterns suggest either a cohort effect or sustained challenges in upper elementary mastery of tested content. The school serves grades through fifth, so no data exists for sixth through eighth grade, which other schools in the district serve. A parent may want to look into whether the school offers additional intervention support in math and ELA, and what transition resources exist as students move to upper grades.
Relative to the thirteen districts in McLean County, Stevenson's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile, a meaningful gap from the county median. The school's testing data shows nearly full participation, so the results reflect the tested population. The school is a regular public school with no charter, magnet, or Title I designation indicated in available data.
Bloomington itself is experiencing a constrained housing market despite strong regional job growth. Home values in the school's zip code are below the state benchmark and rents are moderate, with mortgage and rent costs tracking at reasonable percentages of household income. The city is actively planning new residential development, though construction is lagging demand. Civic anchors include Miller Park Zoo, the Bloomington Public Library, and a developing downtown streetscape, all within reach of the neighborhood. Connect Transit provides bus service with 16 routes, and a new downtown transit center is planned for late 2026.
The parent district, Bloomington SD 87, has undergone structural changes in the past two years that affect school choice and pathway planning. A county sales tax passed in April 2025 dedicates revenue to facilities, school resource officers, and mental health support. The district also purchased a former State Farm building to expand pre-K capacity and to house the Bloomington Career Academy, which opened its doors in October 2025. For ELL families, the district adopted the English 3-D curriculum districtwide in January 2024, splitting newcomers into their own Language Launch track. The district has also implemented a cell-phone classroom ban to address the leading source of disciplinary referrals.
Stevenson appears to be a neighborhood elementary school with typical K-5 grade bands and enrollment. Its academic performance is below county averages, which a parent considering the school will want to understand as they evaluate how their child's learning trajectory aligns with school and district support structures. The surrounding community and district context is one of growth and investment, with new pre-K slots and career pathways coming online as housing demand rises.
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