The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on J D Colt Elem School
J D Colt Elementary School is closed. According to records, the school served middle grades and was a regular public school in Litchfield, Illinois, operated by Litchfield CUSD 12.
The school's last available assessment results are from the 2022-23 school year, when it administered Illinois state tests (IAR) in English language arts and mathematics to third-grade students. In mathematics, proficiency stood at a low level. In English language arts, proficiency was also below the state average. No other demographic, enrollment, or operational data for the school is available in current records.
Litchfield CUSD 12 underwent a major elementary consolidation, which accounts for the closure of J D Colt and other aging buildings. The district broke ground in October 2021 on a new State Street Elementary School, a multi-story facility for grades 2-5 designed to centralize the elementary program across fewer buildings with modern facilities, a gymnasium that doubles as a storm shelter, and streamlined transportation and meal logistics.
Litchfield itself is a small city in central Illinois, positioned between Springfield and St. Louis along Interstate 55 and Route 66. It blends a small-town residential character with Route 66 tourism, anchored by a historic downtown with the Carnegie Public Library and cafes like the Ariston Café. The economy relies most on health care, led by HSHS St. Francis Hospital, a critical-access facility; retail trade; and finance and insurance. Major employers include Rural King, Nevco Sports, and Capitol Group. The city is growing modestly, with active residential development around Lake Lou Yaeger and the newer Eagle Ridge subdivision.
For families in the district, Litchfield CUSD 12 has invested in career and technical education. In August 2023, the district opened the South Central Illinois Training and Innovation Center, a state-funded CTE facility serving high school students across Montgomery and Macoupin counties. Students can earn college credit and industry credentials in welding, auto technology, IT, precision machining, and agriculture technology before graduation. Housing in the Litchfield area is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with home values well below the state median.
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