The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 51% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wells Elementary School
Wells Elementary serves preschool through sixth grade in Grayville, a small river town in White County that has experienced steady population decline. The school is a regular public school with a total enrollment of roughly a small-to-mid-sized group for its grade span, with the largest cohorts in kindergarten and the upper elementary grades. Nearly all students are white, with a very small presence of Native American and multiracial students; free-or-reduced-price lunch status was not reported in the data available.
Reading the state assessment results requires care: Wells gives the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English language arts and math to grades three through five, and science to fifth grade only. Sixth-grade results are missing, suggesting Wells may not fully serve that grade or testing does not occur there. Across the grades tested, results show uneven performance. In English language arts, third grade proficiency is below the midpoint, but fourth and fifth grades perform in the mid-range. In math, third and fourth grades cluster around the midpoint, but fifth grade drops notably lower. Science, tested in fifth grade only, sits roughly at the midpoint. All tested students participated fully in these assessments.
Set against the other districts in White County, Wells's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint. That said, a parent may want to look into the particular gaps in fifth-grade math and what support or instructional moves the school has in place to address them. Whether state testing reflects the school's full picture or whether other learning happens outside these windows is a question worth asking directly.
The school sits within Grayville itself, a town of roughly a few thousand people that functions as a quiet residential community with a small historic downtown near the Wabash River and a legacy tied to oil and agriculture. Population has declined, and the median home value is below the state average, making housing relatively affordable. Major employers in the area concentrate in construction, production, and food service; no large single employer dominates. The town has a Groff Memorial Library with public computers and programming, and Grayville Memorial Park serves civic life. Interstate access at the junction of Routes 1 and 64 connects the town to broader regions, though there is no local transit.
The district has made visible investments in Wells's physical plant. A solar installation and heating system retrofit funded through state maintenance grants and city sales tax revenue are underway, a multi-year project that will affect the daily learning environment. Additionally, a Pre-K grant has supported playground improvements, and the city council committed funds for softball and playground expansion at the school, reflecting active investment in early-childhood and recreational spaces.
The school serves families in a place where housing is affordable and population is aging. Parents considering Wells should understand that upper-elementary math results warrant conversation with the school about what supports exist and how the school approaches those grades. The school's physical environment is receiving attention and resources, and the grade configuration and community context suggest an intimate, locally rooted setting.
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