The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rock Cut Elem School
Rock Cut Elementary is a small elementary school serving grades one through six in Loves Park, Illinois, within Harlem Unified School District 122. The school sits in a suburban setting along the Rock River corridor in the Rockford metro area, in a community centered on commercial vitality and light manufacturing rather than a traditional downtown.
The school's academic performance on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in mathematics and English language arts is notably low across the grades tested. In third-grade math, proficiency stands in the low range; fourth-grade math and fifth-grade math both remain very low. In English language arts, proficiency in third grade falls substantially below the school's math performance, with fourth-grade ELA slightly higher but still at the lower end, and fifth-grade ELA dropping again. Fifth-grade science proficiency is also low. These results place Rock Cut below the midpoint of Winnebago County elementary and school data, sitting in the bottom quartile when compared with other schools in the county. State testing data for sixth grade is not available in the reported metrics.
The school enrolls approximately students across its six grades, with a diverse student body. The student population is roughly evenly divided between White and Hispanic students, with smaller shares of students identifying as two or more races, Black, and Asian. One student identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native. Free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, nor were counts for students with IEPs or English learners, so a parent may want to look into the school's data on economically disadvantaged students and special population supports directly with the school.
Loves Park itself is a growing suburban community relying on aerospace and industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and retail as primary economic anchors. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to state benchmarks. The city is actively developing commercial and mixed-use space, particularly the Riverside Commons district along the I-90 corridor, and has undertaken streetscape improvements to the older North Second Street corridor. Public parks and trail access are substantial, anchored by Rock Cut State Park nearby. The city levies no municipal property tax, which shapes its economic and civic priorities toward commercial development and visitor spending.
Harlem UD 122 is currently undergoing significant restructuring. The district has approved closure of Maple Elementary and Olson Park Elementary, effective in the 2026-2027 school year, and is converting remaining elementary schools from traditional K-5 buildings into two-year grade-span models (such as K-1, 2-3, 4-5). This restructuring stems from a substantial budget deficit, declining enrollment, and underutilized buildings. Early Childhood program seats will be substantially reduced. These changes will alter which building students attend and reshape the elementary experience. The district's Board has also committed that if a Winnebago County school facility sales tax passes in a March 2026 referendum, approximately half the proceeds will be directed toward replacing property taxes currently used for existing building bond debt, providing direct property-tax relief to district homeowners.
Rock Cut's low test performance and the district's ongoing consolidation and grade-reconfiguration plans are both important factors for families to weigh. A parent considering this school should seek detailed information from both the school and district about Rock Cut's specific academic supports, intervention strategies, and how the pending grade-span restructuring will affect Rock Cut's future configuration and program offerings.
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