The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Blackhawk Elem School
Blackhawk Elementary is a small K-4 school in Freeport, a modest county-seat city in northwest Illinois with a walkable historic downtown and notably low housing costs. The school enrolls students across early grades and serves a diverse community: substantial shares identify as Hispanic and multiracial, with meaningful representation of Black, white, and multiracial students.
The most recent state assessment data show proficiency rates well below the state standard. In third-grade math and English language arts, just over one in five students achieved proficiency. Fourth-grade performance is somewhat stronger—about one in four students met the proficiency bar in math, and roughly one in three in language arts—but these results remain low. Across the county's other districts on the same assessment, Blackhawk sits in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are available, what literacy and numeracy interventions are in place, and how the school is working to move these numbers.
Enrollment is stable at a level typical for a neighborhood elementary in a small city. Prekindergarten through fourth grade are housed here, though the district is undergoing significant reconfiguration beginning in fall 2025 and continuing through 2026. Most elementaries in the district, likely including Blackhawk, are transitioning from a K-4 to a K-5 model, which will reshape grade assignments and building boundaries. Preschool programs are being consolidated into a new central Early Childhood Center. A separate Jones-Farrar International Baccalaureate magnet school will expand to become a K-8 option offering an International Baccalaureate pathway. Families in the district should clarify with the school which grade bands Blackhawk will serve going forward and how the transition will affect their child's school assignment.
The district has also adopted an explicit college and career readiness framework and culturally responsive pedagogy practices, with a Career Academy model at the high school and the OneGoal classroom approach implemented district-wide. This means an earlier and more structured focus on postsecondary planning as students move through grades.
Freeport itself is a town where housing is affordable and downtown life remains walkable and community-oriented, with brick-faced historic buildings, local shops, and seasonal events. The city is focused on downtown revitalization rather than sprawl expansion, and employment is anchored by health care and manufacturing sectors. Population has declined modestly over recent decades, and growth is steady rather than rapid.
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