Edison Middle School, Champaign IL

Original Research by School Decision on Edison Middle School

Edison Middle School serves grades six through eight in Champaign and enrolls a student body that is racially diverse, with roughly equal shares of white and Black students, along with smaller populations of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The school is situated in the city's downtown core, on West Green Street, a location within walking distance of civic amenities, mixed-use housing, and the University of Illinois Campustown district.

State testing results show uneven performance across grade levels and subjects. In English language arts, the school's strength lies in eighth grade, where proficiency reaches a higher level; in grades six and seven, proficiency is lower. Mathematics proficiency is below the eighth-grade ELA level across all grades. Sixth-grade math proficiency is particularly low. Seventh and eighth grades show modest gains in math, though performance remains below midpoint when the school is positioned against other districts in Champaign County. In science, eighth-grade proficiency is in the mid-range. Testing participation is strong, with participation rates near or at full across all grades and subjects. The state does not publish testing data for grades three through five at this school, a gap that reflects Edison's middle-school grades only.

In the county comparison set of districts, Edison's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint. A parent may want to look into this further with the school and the district, particularly if academic acceleration or strong baseline proficiency in math is a priority.

Edison is one of three middle schools in Champaign CUSD 4. The district recently implemented AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a college-readiness framework, and all three middle schools, including Edison, are designated AVID National Demonstration Schools. The district uses AVID's strategies—focused notetaking, vocabulary development, and text annotation—embedded into classroom instruction. For families considering the school, this means exposure to a district-wide pedagogy aimed at building habits and skills tied to college preparation.

The school draws students from the city proper and surrounding areas. Champaign itself is anchored by a historic downtown blended with a university district, with strong walkability in core areas and active street life. Housing values have risen in recent years; rental costs have also grown. The city is growing, with new mixed-income housing development underway near downtown and substantial student housing in Campustown. For families seeking a middle school in an urban setting with access to public transit, cultural amenities, and a university-anchored employment and service base, Edison's location offers that context.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 23% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 730%

School 30% · District 31% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 22% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 38% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 735%

School 35% · District 40% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 853%

School 53% · District 44% · ▲ 9 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Science

Grade 845%

School 45% · District 33% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

This schoolChampaign CUSD 4, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.