The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jones-farrar Intl Baccalaureate
Jones-Farrar International Baccalaureate is a public elementary school in Freeport, Illinois, serving kindergarten through sixth grade as part of Freeport School District 145. The school sits in a small county-seat city known for its historic downtown, low housing costs, and a manufacturing and health-care-centered economy. It is designated as an International Baccalaureate World School, which shapes its curriculum and pedagogy around the IB framework emphasizing inquiry-based learning and global perspectives.
The school enrolls students across a modest size for its grade band. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is roughly half white, with substantial shares of Black students, students of two or more races, Hispanic students, and a small number of Asian students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, limiting a fuller picture of economic need. Special education and English learner counts were not reported.
State testing results from spring 2025 show that proficiency in mathematics and English language arts is low across the school's tested grades. In third grade, proficiency in math and reading each falls in the low to mid-range. By fourth grade, reading proficiency rises modestly but math proficiency drops sharply. Fifth grade shows the weakest performance overall, with reading proficiency in the low range and math proficiency very low. Sixth grade reading proficiency recovers somewhat to a mid-range level. Science proficiency, measured in fifth grade, is also very low. Across the board, these proficiency rates place the school in the bottom quartile compared to other school districts in Stephenson County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly around what academic supports and interventions are in place, and what trends these results represent compared to prior years.
The broader context matters here: the district is currently undergoing a significant structural change. As of fall 2025 and continuing into 2026, Jones-Farrar is expanding from a K-6 school to a K-8 magnet school, moving into the former Carl Sandburg Middle School building. This reconfiguration is part of a districtwide shift in which other elementary schools move to K-5 models. The district has also adopted a college and career readiness framework called OneGoal, paired with Career Academy structures at the high school, reflecting an explicit postsecondary focus. These changes mean Jones-Farrar families should understand that the school's physical location and grade configuration are in flux, and that the pedagogical framing around the IB program and career readiness is actively shaping instruction.
For families considering the school, the appeal lies in access to an International Baccalaureate curriculum at the elementary level without private-school tuition, as well as a pathway that will extend through eighth grade once fully implemented. The school is located in a town with notably affordable housing and a functioning downtown with civic anchors like the historic library and parks. However, current academic performance data shows persistent challenges in proficiency, particularly in mathematics and science. The state testing instrument itself changed cut scores across subjects, which can affect year-to-year comparability, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about performance trajectory and any prior-year results. The timing and scope of the grade reconfiguration also means that building stability and staffing clarity are worth exploring with the district directly before enrolling.
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