The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in English language arts. The lowest is 58% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Coal City Middle School
Coal City Middle School serves grades 6 through 8 in a small village in Grundy County about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. The school is part of Coal City Community Unit School District 1, which operates five schools across a 55-square-mile area that includes Coal City, Carbon Hill, Diamond, and parts of Goose Lake.
The school's enrollment is roughly that size for a county middle school, distributed fairly evenly across the three grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, English learners, or special education enrollment was not available, so a parent may want to look into this further with the school directly.
In English language arts, Coal City Middle shows relative strength. Sixth graders came in around the midpoint, but seventh and eighth graders both posted solid proficiency rates, with eighth graders reaching a particularly strong rate. The pattern is consistent with high participation in testing, suggesting broad engagement across the grade band. Math proficiency is more modest and uneven. Sixth graders were around the midpoint, seventh graders reached a better level, but eighth graders dipped back down to where sixth grade landed. Science testing data is limited; an eighth-grade science result showed proficiency just below the math average for that grade.
When positioned against other districts in Grundy County, Coal City Middle's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile. This positioning reflects strength in ELA performance that outweighs the more moderate math results. State testing data for earlier grades (3 through 5) was not available, likely because the school serves only middle grades.
The school sits on a consolidated campus along S. Carbon Hill Road south of Coal City's downtown, alongside Coal City High School. The district has undertaken a multi-year Facilities Improvement Plan funded by bonds issued in late 2023. Projects delivered in 2024 included new outdoor restrooms and concessions at the middle school, bathroom renovations, and equipment updates across the schools. These improvements reflect the district's commitment to modernizing buildings, some of which date back several decades.
Coal City itself is a quiet commuter village with a suburban-rural feel where most residents own homes. It began as a coal-mining town and has evolved toward manufacturing and power generation as its economic base. New residential construction is occurring in subdivisions south of the village, and housing values are roughly aligned with state benchmarks. The village sits along the I-55 Corridor near I-80, positioning it as accessible to Chicago employment while maintaining a small-town character.
A parent considering Coal City Middle should expect solid ELA instruction and results, particularly in grades 7 and 8, with math outcomes that are respectable but less pronounced. The school draws from a stable, mostly white community. Specific information about program breadth, extracurriculars, or specialized course offerings was not available in the data provided.
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