The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Genoa-kingston Middle School
Genoa-Kingston Middle School serves grades six through eight in the Genoa-Kingston CUSD 424 district in DeKalb County, Illinois. The school enrolls a small population of students distributed fairly evenly across its three grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic enrollment and smaller Asian, Black, and multiracial populations; demographic data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available.
The school sits in Genoa, a small city blending historic downtown Main Street with surrounding agricultural land and newer residential subdivisions. The community is predominantly homeowner-occupied with a family-oriented demographic. Housing values in the area sit at a modest multiple of median income compared to national benchmarks, and the local economy centers on small downtown businesses, light manufacturing along rail corridors, and regional employers including colleges and nearby corporate facilities.
On the most recent state assessments available, the school shows a clear divide between its English Language Arts and mathematics results. In English Language Arts, students achieved proficiency at a strong rate in sixth and eighth grade. Seventh grade proficiency in ELA was lower but still above the midpoint. Mathematics results are substantially weaker across all three grades, with proficiency rates in the low to mid-range. Science proficiency in eighth grade was moderate. When averaged across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency sits below the midpoint among DeKalb County districts. A parent may want to look into the specific factors behind the mathematics performance gap with the school directly. State assessment participation rates were consistently high, indicating robust test administration. The data do not include trend information sufficient to show whether performance is improving or declining.
A significant development for families in the district occurred in November 2024 when DeKalb County voters rejected a proposed countywide sales tax intended to fund school facility needs, school resource officers, and mental health staff across the region. The Genoa-Kingston board had placed this measure on the ballot, and its failure means the district must continue funding facility maintenance, capital projects, and related staffing primarily through property taxes. The district has since bid out high school re-roofing and mechanical upgrades separately, signaling ongoing facility needs that will depend on local tax revenue rather than a shared sales-tax base.
No data were available on special education enrollment, English learner population, discipline practices, staff levels, attendance rates, or course offerings at the middle school level. The school's website information was not provided, so details on specific programs, extracurricular offerings, or school culture would need to come directly from the school.
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