The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 34% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fieldcrest Intermediate School
Fieldcrest Intermediate School serves a small enrollment of students in grades three through five in Toluca, a rural city of modest size in Marshall County in central Illinois. The school sits on North Maple Street in a community with a long agricultural tradition and coal-mining heritage, where civic life centers on a compact downtown and families have deep local roots.
The school's recent academic performance shows concerning results across math and English language arts. In third grade, math proficiency sits below half, with even lower results in fourth and fifth grade, where proficiency drops further. Reading performance follows a similar pattern, ranging from the low-to-middle range across the three grades. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, proficiency is also in the low range. These results suggest that a majority of students are not meeting state standards in core subjects. A parent may want to look into what interventions or additional support the school is offering to address these gaps, and whether staff and resources have been reallocated to focus on reading and math instruction.
All tested students participated in state assessments, indicating consistent testing access and engagement from families. The school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among the other districts in Marshall County, offering some modest context, though the absolute performance levels remain below where many families might hope.
The school is part of a four-building district structure that divides students by grade band and location. Around 2021, the district closed Fieldcrest Elementary-East in Wenona and reorganized into a Primary School (K-2) in Minonk, this Intermediate School (3-5) in Toluca, a Middle School (6-8) in Wenona, and a High School in Minonk. Families moving into the district should understand that children will attend school in different towns at different stages, requiring busing. The enrollment in Toluca is small, typical for a school serving only three grades in a rural area.
Demographic data show the school serves students who are predominantly white, with small numbers of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students, and very few students identifying as Black or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and on students with individualized education plans or English learners were not available. The school's student population and community reflect Toluca's character as a close-knit, longstanding rural town where many families have local ties.
Housing in the Toluca area is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with median home values notably below state average. The town itself reports recent home construction and interest in growth, citing the consolidated school district and proximity to Interstate 39 as draws for new residents, though the broader population trend has been flat to slightly declining over recent decades.
See more original research from School Decision →