The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Math. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Eldorado Elem School
Eldorado Elementary School is the only elementary school in Eldorado CUSD 4, serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a building at the center of this declining small city in southern Illinois. The school enrolls a modest student body with nearly all students white, reflecting the demographic composition of Saline County and the surrounding region. Free breakfast and lunch are provided to all students, a policy the district has continued through the current school year that removes one cost barrier for families.
The school's recent state testing results reveal academic performance below what the state expects from these grades. In mathematics, proficiency varies sharply by grade level. Third graders showed the strongest performance, with just over three in five students meeting proficiency. By fourth grade that figure fell below half, and in fifth grade it dropped further, with roughly a third of students testing proficient in math. English language arts follows a similar downward arc: third graders scored near four in ten proficient, fourth graders just above four in ten, and fifth graders also near four in ten. Science results are notably lower still; in fifth grade, roughly one in four students met the state's proficiency standard. Testing participation has been strong across the school, with near-universal engagement in both mathematics and language arts, indicating that these results reflect actual student performance rather than missing test-takers.
The decline in proficiency from third to fifth grade, particularly steep in mathematics, may point to curriculum cumulation challenges or shifts in student population at the upper elementary grades. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, especially if placing a child in the upper elementary grades or considering how the school supports students who have not met earlier benchmarks.
Among the county's five school districts, Eldorado Elementary's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, a position that reflects the school's standing relative to other elementary buildings in Saline County. The comparison includes both elementary and middle grades because the school serves both; proficiency data for grades six through eight are not yet available, likely because those grades either have not sat for state assessments at the time of this reporting or are now served elsewhere.
The broader Eldorado CUSD 4 district has undertaken several curriculum and partnership initiatives in recent years. The high school has been approved for five College and Career Pathway Endorsements, a durable credential shift that will allow graduates to earn state-recognized career endorsements with early college credit. A major solar development project in the area has funded a hydroponic learning lab and agrivoltaics partnership at the high school. Additionally, Eldorado High School became an approved certified site for a Basic Nurse Assistant training program, meaning students can earn a state CNA credential during their secondary years. These are district-wide moves that signal a commitment to work-based and dual-credit learning, though their direct impact on elementary curriculum is not documented. The district also recently returned sales tax revenue to property taxpayers through a tax abatement, maintaining what it describes as one of the lowest property tax rates in the county, a meaningful factor for families weighing housing costs.
Eldorado is a small rural city that has experienced long-term population decline, having shed a substantial share of residents over the past several decades as coal mining and other major employers departed. The downtown retains historic architecture but few active businesses. Housing values are modest, and the town functions partly as a bedroom community for nearby Harrisburg. The local economy now centers on healthcare, education, and construction. These conditions shape the family context that the school serves: stable, affordable housing in a community with limited commercial amenities but strong civic anchors including a public library and converted rail trails.
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