The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Science. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Liberty Elem School
Liberty Elementary School is a kindergarten-through-fourth-grade public school in Danville, Illinois, serving a community navigating significant economic headwinds. The school enrolls students across five grade levels, with roughly stable enrollment across the early grades and a modest decline by fourth grade. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse: just over half identify as Black, roughly a fifth as white, and the remainder distributed among Hispanic, multiracial, Asian, and other groups. Free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available; the school's website or the district would be the source for that detail.
Academic performance at Liberty is a central consideration. State assessment results from the most recent school year show proficiency rates in math and English language arts that fall substantially below state benchmarks. In third grade, roughly one in five students in each subject met the proficiency standard. Fourth grade results are notably weaker, with math proficiency in the single digits and English language arts proficiency just above that. Grade five and beyond do not appear in the data because the school serves only through fourth grade. Science testing data comes from a prior assessment cycle and is not comparable to current measures due to statewide shifts in how science is assessed.
Placed against the other districts in Vermilion County, Liberty's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. This is consistent with a district-wide pattern. Danville CCSD 118 has made math improvement a priority; the district hired an independent math consultant in early 2024 and set an explicit goal of moving more students above the 20th percentile in math, signaling that classroom-level work on math instruction is actively underway. Parents considering Liberty should view this district-level initiative as relevant context, though results take time to surface.
The broader Danville context shapes what families encounter. The city is the county seat of Vermilion County, a working town of roughly mid-sized population that has experienced sustained population decline over decades. The economy has shifted from its historical coal and manufacturing base toward healthcare, retail, and smaller industrial sectors. Local civic anchors include the Danville Public Library, Harrison Park with its golf course, and regional parks like Kennekuk Cove, a short drive away. Downtown Danville retains a historic pedestrian core, though much of the city is car-oriented.
Housing in the zip code area is notably affordable relative to state and national benchmarks. Median home values sit well below both the Illinois and national averages, and rental costs are similarly modest, making housing affordability a strength of the area compared to much of the country. The housing market has declined modestly year-over-year.
The district declined to support a countywide school facility sales tax referendum in 2023, meaning D118 continues to fund capital improvements through reserves and existing revenue rather than a dedicated recurring sales tax stream. The district has deployed reserves and COVID relief funding for significant facilities work, including a major addition and remodel at Danville High School and a building addition at Northeast Elementary Magnet School. That construction at Northeast displaced the magnet's signature balanced, year-round calendar for two school years, an example of how district-level construction can affect program offerings families chose.
Liberty itself is a regular neighborhood elementary school with no specialized magnet or charter designation. Parents seeking additional specialized pathways may explore Northeast Elementary's magnet program or programs at higher grade levels. For families prioritizing a strong early-grades foundation with intensive reading and math support, Liberty's current proficiency levels warrant a direct conversation with the school about instructional approaches, small-group interventions, and how the district's math initiative is being implemented at the building level. The school serves a genuine community need in a neighborhood setting within a district and city actively engaged in improvement work.
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