The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cuba Elem School
Cuba Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a small, rural Illinois town with a population in steady decline since the late 1970s. The school sits at the center of a close-knit residential community where most families own their homes, though residents describe the city as quiet with a diminished downtown commercial district and a historic feel. The town lies roughly forty miles south of Galesburg along Illinois Route 97, in central Fulton County.
The school enrolls a small group of students, distributed relatively evenly across its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a handful of students from other backgrounds. Family economic data—such as the rate of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals—was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the economic composition of the community and what support services are in place.
State testing results from the most recent year show uneven performance across grades and subjects. In math, third grade stands out with solid proficiency, but fourth and fifth grades show much lower attainment, particularly in grade four where proficiency drops sharply. English language arts tells a different story: third grade lags, but proficiency rises through fourth and fifth grades, with fifth grade reaching a moderate level. Science proficiency in fifth grade is low. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade results are not reported, which aligns with the school's designation as serving only through fifth grade; students move to middle school afterward. Test participation appears complete across the tested grades.
The school's overall proficiency index positions it in the top quartile among the county's districts, a reflection partly of third-grade math strength but also of mixed results across other grades. Parents should view this as a starting point and ask the school about specific interventions in grades four and five, where both math and overall achievement dip.
The locale is economically modest. Median home values in the area are substantially below both state and national benchmarks, and median household income aligns with the national average. Long-term population decline and limited employment in the town itself mean many adults commute to surrounding areas. The school district has not undergone recent major operational changes, and the athletics program operates cooperatively with a neighboring district.
Cuba Elementary is a small, community-rooted school in a town experiencing persistent decline. The academic picture is mixed: strength in early elementary reading and math, but a notable dip in upper elementary, particularly in math. A parent considering this school should speak with staff about curriculum and support in the fourth and fifth grades, the reasons behind the proficiency swings, and what family engagement looks like in a rural, economically stretched community.
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