Havana Jr High School, Havana IL

Original Research by School Decision on Havana Jr High School

Havana Jr High School serves grades five through eight in a small Illinois River county seat where the historic downtown anchors civic life. The school enrolls a small cohort for its grade band, with the student body overwhelmingly white and drawn from the town and immediate area. No recent major district referenda or curriculum overhauls were identified, suggesting a stable, traditional structure.

In English language arts, the school shows a pattern of growth through the grades. Fifth-grade proficiency sits in the mid-range; sixth grade dips modestly lower; seventh grade climbs to about half the cohort proficient; and eighth grade reaches strength, with nearly three of every four students meeting proficiency. In math, results are more uneven. Fifth-grade math proficiency sits at roughly the mid-point; sixth grade falls sharply; seventh grade remains under a quarter proficient; and eighth grade recovers to around two of every five students proficient. Science results in fifth grade are just under half the cohort proficient; by eighth grade, proficiency rises to about three of every five students. Across tested grades and subjects, the school sits above the median for proficiency among Mason County school districts.

Participation rates on state assessments run in the high nineties across grades and subjects, indicating consistent test administration. State testing data was not available for grades three and four, likely because Illinois's assessment system does not test those grades.

The town itself has pulled back population since 2020, with employment slipping noticeably from 2023 to 2024. Civic energy has shifted toward downtown revitalization, with a five-year push to restore historic storefronts and convert upper floors to lodging and mixed-use space. Housing values in the zip code sit well below state and national mediums, and monthly mortgage estimates are low relative to household income, making affordability favorable for buyers. A handful of major employers operate locally: the hospital, county government, schools, and regional employers like Spoon River College, which serves multiple counties. The riverfront and park system provide outdoor anchors, though the town lacks fixed-route public transit and residents are car-dependent.

A parent considering this school may want to look further into sixth and seventh-grade math trajectory and what supports are in place in those grades. The strength in eighth-grade English and the overall proficiency position relative to neighboring districts are assets. The small enrollment means fewer course sections and fewer specialized programs than larger systems typically offer, though this also allows closer teacher-student contact. The demographic composition is homogeneous; families seeking diversity may want to ask about student demographics and school culture directly.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 43%

▲ 13 pts above state median

Grade 618%

School 18% · District 18%

▼ 6 pts below state median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 5 pts below state median

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 40%

▲ 18 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 59%

▲ 7 pts above state median

Grade 642%

School 42% · District 42%

▼ 8 pts below state median

Grade 752%

School 52% · District 52%

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 874%

School 74% · District 74%

▲ 20 pts above state median

Science

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 48%

▲ 11 pts above state median

Grade 860%

School 60% · District 60%

▲ 20 pts above state median

This schoolHavana CUSD 126, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.