The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Center Street Elem School
Center Street Elementary School serves grades four through eight in Fairfield, a small rural county seat in southeastern Illinois. The school enrolls approximately three hundred students, the vast majority of whom are white, reflecting the town's broader demographic composition. The student body is relatively small by typical elementary standards, which means families have a school environment where class sizes are modest and individual recognition is more likely than in a larger building.
On state assessment measures, Center Street shows mixed results across math and English language arts. In math, proficiency varies considerably by grade: fourth grade sits at roughly one-third proficient, fifth and eighth grades land near one-third as well, sixth grade slightly below that, while seventh grade edges just above two-fifths. In ELA, the picture is somewhat stronger. Fourth through seventh grades cluster in the low-to-mid range between roughly one-half and just above one-half proficient, while eighth grade falls slightly below that at roughly two-fifths. Science testing data is available only for fifth and eighth grades; proficiency sits near one-half in fifth grade and just below two-fifths in eighth. The pattern across grades and subjects suggests students are making progress in reading and writing skills relative to math, though overall proficiency rates sit well below state averages. Test participation was nearly universal across all tested grades.
The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Wayne County. A parent may want to look further into what math and literacy supports the school offers at each grade level, particularly whether there are intervention programs or targeted instruction for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards.
The town of Fairfield itself is undergoing population decline, a trend common to rural Illinois. The local housing market is relatively affordable; median home values are modest and mortgages accordingly low compared to state and national benchmarks. The area anchors around a historic downtown courthouse square with traditional civic spaces and a library. Fairfield Memorial Hospital and manufacturing employment (notably Airtex automotive parts) are the primary local economic drivers, alongside government, retail, and community college work. The economy is stable but not expanding, and families considering the area should expect a sparse, car-dependent suburban character outside the small downtown core and limited urban services.
The school sits within Fairfield PSD 112 and is the district's elementary building. No recent major curriculum shifts or referenda were publicly reported, suggesting the district is maintaining a steady operational course rather than pursuing new strategic directions. For families choosing this school, the draw is typically a small-town sense of community, modest costs of living, and stable if modest academic performance. This is not a school positioned for advanced or accelerated learners seeking extensive enrichment, but rather a neighborhood school serving the local population where attention from educators and peer familiarity are among its defining features.
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