The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Charleston Middle School
Charleston Middle School is a school serving only grades seven and eight in a small college town in east-central Illinois. The enrollment is roughly evenly divided between the two grades, with a student body that is predominantly white and leans toward families at or above the district median income. The school's student composition is stable, and the immediate peer group is small and localized to the Charleston area.
State testing data is available only for grade seven and eight, which are the grades the school serves. In English language arts, the school shows a marked difference by grade level. Seventh graders attained proficiency at a modest rate, while eighth graders showed stronger performance with roughly three in five meeting or exceeding state standards. In mathematics, both grades struggled considerably. Seventh grade math proficiency was low, and eighth grade fell even lower, with fewer than one in five students meeting state standards. Science testing was administered only in grade eight, where roughly half the students achieved proficiency. Across all assessed subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index falls above the midpoint compared to other districts in Coles County, though this reflects an ELA strength that masks consistently weak math outcomes.
The pattern suggests a school where reading and writing instruction may be relatively stronger than quantitative preparation, at least by eighth grade. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly whether there are targeted interventions in place for seventh and eighth grade mathematics. Test participation rates were strong, running in the high ninety-percentile range across all tested subjects, indicating consistent student engagement with assessments.
The school sits on Smith Drive, separated from Charleston's historic downtown and campus district by several miles. Charleston itself is a declining college town anchored by Eastern Illinois University, with a walkable downtown organized around a historic courthouse square and a range of civic and cultural anchors including the Carnegie library, trails, and state parks. The town economy is concentrated in university employment, health care, and local government, and the local housing market is shaped by rental demand from students alongside owner-occupied residential stock. Home values are near the state average and housing remains modest relative to national benchmarks.
No data on special education enrollment, English learner populations, free or reduced price lunch participation, staff composition, or chronic absenteeism were available. State testing for the elementary grades that feed into this school are not reported in the provided data.
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