The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lena-winslow Jr High School
Lena-Winslow Jr High School serves grades six through eight in a small village in northwestern Illinois, operating as part of the Lena Winslow CUSD 202 district. The school draws from a community that is predominantly white, with very small percentages of students from other racial and ethnic groups. The student body is compact for a junior high, with enrollment distributed across the three grades.
In English language arts, the school shows stronger performance at the upper grades. Eighth graders reached proficiency at a solid rate, while seventh graders also performed well. Sixth-grade ELA results were respectable but notably lower than the grades above. Math performance is uneven across the grades, with sixth and seventh graders showing proficiency rates in the low-to-mid range, while eighth graders moved into the mid-range. Eighth-grade science proficiency was at the midpoint. State testing data was not available for some elementary grades the school may serve, or those grades are not tested under Illinois assessment requirements.
Against other districts in Stephenson County, Lena-Winslow Jr High's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile. This positioning reflects the strength of upper-grade ELA results pulling the average upward, balanced against the weaker sixth-grade math showing. The school maintains full participation in state assessments across the grades tested.
Lena itself is a quiet village of modest size serving a rural agricultural area in the rolling hills of northwestern Illinois. The downtown is compact and walkable along historic streets with older residences, though newer subdivisions at the village edges tend to have more isolated housing stock. The school campus sits on Fremont Street alongside the district's other school buildings, somewhat removed from the downtown core. Housing inventory in the village is tight, and while home prices remain below state and national medians, demand is steady. The area's employment base includes food manufacturing, healthcare, education, and retail, with Kolb-Lena Inc. operating a dairy facility locally and residents also commuting to nearby Freeport for work.
The district recently undertook a significant capital project, breaking ground in May 2025 on a new football stadium at Ric Arand Football Field with artificial turf and digital display scoreboard, funded through a mix of school district and community donations. This reflects the town's strong football tradition and willingness to invest in school facilities. A 2022 board election referendum did not pass, meaning school board representation continues to be structured by congressional townships rather than at-large, which shapes how community voices participate in governance.
A parent considering this school should think of it as a small-town junior high where upper-grade English learners tend to perform well, math proficiency is mixed and worth watching, and the community places value on athletic programs and modest civic investment. The setting is rural and quiet, with students drawn from a close-knit village and surrounding farmland.
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