The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Elverado Junior High School
Elverado Junior High School serves sixth through eighth grade students in Vergennes, a very small rural village in Jackson County in southern Illinois. The school is part of Elverado Community Unit School District 196, a consolidated district serving four small towns, and sits on a shared campus with other school buildings at Harrison Street in Vergennes.
The school's academic performance reveals a sharp split between English language arts and mathematics. In English language arts, proficiency is strong: sixth graders show solid mastery, and seventh and eighth graders exceed that, with both grades demonstrating proficiency well above midpoint for their district neighbors. Science proficiency in eighth grade is also reasonably solid, reaching just above the midpoint among Jackson County schools. Mathematics, however, is a material weak spot. Proficiency drops steeply as students progress through the grades, falling from low levels in sixth grade to minimal proficiency in eighth grade. The gap between ELA and math performance is unusually wide and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what is driving that divergence, whether it reflects classroom instruction, curriculum choice, or student needs requiring different intervention.
The school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among the county's districts, anchored by the strength of its ELA program and offset by the mathematics challenge. All students who were tested participated fully in state assessments, meaning neither participation nor opt-out patterns are a concern.
The student body is small, with total enrollment in the low tens of students across the three grades, reflecting both the small size of the district and the rural setting. The enrollment is predominantly white, with small numbers of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. No data on free-or-reduced-price lunch qualification, English learner status, or special education enrollment was available, limiting the picture of economic need or support requirements in the population.
Vergennes itself is a declining rural community where population has trended downward over recent decades. Most residents own their homes. The local housing market shows modest values and relatively affordable housing compared to state and national benchmarks. Employment is scarce in the immediate area; most working residents likely commute to Murphysboro or elsewhere. The school serves as a civic anchor for the multi-town district.
The district is in the midst of major change. Voters approved a substantial bond referendum in April 2025 to construct a new Pre-K through 8 building that will consolidate and replace three aging school buildings. This new facility will be built on the site of the existing high school. The district has begun issuing bonds, which will bring a direct increase to property tax levy to pay principal and interest. The district notes that even with this tax increase, Elverado will maintain the lowest tax rate in Jackson County. Families with students in sixth through eighth grade should plan for this multi-year transition and eventual move to a newer facility.
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