The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wilson Elem School
Wilson Elementary School is a small, early-elementary school in Granite City serving first and second grade students. The school is located on Wilson Avenue in the Wilson Park area of Granite City, near other district schools and parks.
The student body is diverse. About half the enrollment is white, with a substantial share who are Black, a meaningful presence of Hispanic students, and smaller populations of Asian and multiracial students. Data on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, or who are English learners or have individualized education plans, were not available.
Academic proficiency is very low. State testing results from the 2015-16 school year, the most recent data available, showed proficiency rates in single digits across math and literacy in both the third and fourth grade cohorts tested at the school. While this data is now about a decade old and does not reflect the school's current performance, it represents the only state assessment results on file for Wilson. A parent would want to follow up directly with the school about more recent achievement data and what instructional approaches are in place. The participation rate in those assessments was strong at roughly ninety-five percent. When placed against other districts in Madison County using the county comparison set, Wilson's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile.
Wilson is part of Granite City CUSD 9, a district that underwent a major structural reconfiguration in 2025-26. Elementary attendance zones were redrawn into kindergarten-through-sixth-grade boundaries, and pre-kindergarten programs were aligned to those same boundaries. Wilson now serves only first and second grade; students progress to other buildings as they advance. Pre-K students assigned to the Wilson zone attend Prather Pre-K, and students advancing to third grade would move to another elementary building. This boundary alignment shapes the continuity a child experiences from pre-K through early elementary and is important context for families considering the school or the district.
Granite City itself is a working-class steel town on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, part of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The local economy has long centered on the U.S. Steel mill, known as Granite City Works. The mill experienced layoffs in 2023, but the company has announced plans to restart a blast furnace in 2026, which is expected to bring manufacturing jobs back. The median home price in the zip code is modest, reflecting an older housing stock. Revitalization efforts downtown have included new restaurants and the reopening of an entertainment venue, though walkability remains limited and most retail is concentrated along Nameoki Road. The city maintains 14 parks and civic amenities including a regional bike trail system and an outdoor skating rink.
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