The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elem School
Lincoln Elementary School is a public school in Marion, Illinois, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school has an enrollment of just under five hundred students, with a student body that is predominantly white, though it includes a substantial minority population. The school sits at 400 Morningside Drive in Marion, a county seat in Williamson County that is experiencing active growth, including a major retail redevelopment at the former shopping mall and new affordable housing construction.
Academically, Lincoln's performance shows strength in the early elementary grades and a notable shift in the upper grades. In third and fourth grade, the school's proficiency rates on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness are solid, particularly in math where students at the fourth-grade level show proficiency rates well above the midpoint. In language arts, fourth-grade performance is also strong. By fifth grade, performance tightens considerably. Fifth-grade math proficiency drops noticeably, and science proficiency at that level is below the midpoint. Fifth-grade language arts remains relatively stable but lower than the preceding grade. This pattern is common in elementary schools during the transition to more abstract and cumulative material, but a parent may want to look into whether the school has strategies to support students through this shift and to understand how the transition to middle school works.
When compared against other districts in Williamson County, Lincoln's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, suggesting the school's aggregate performance is above the typical district in the county. The school administers state assessments across tested grades and subjects with strong participation rates, and attendance at testing is near universal.
Demographic data shows the enrollment is stable across grade levels. Race and ethnicity data is reported in full. Data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner populations, and special education enrollment were not available in the records provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these populations and the supports available.
Marion itself is an active, growing community. The city has a walkable historic downtown around Tower Square Plaza with local cultural anchors, and it functions as a regional retail and medical hub. Major employers include automotive manufacturing, healthcare systems, and retail. Housing values in the area are moderate and have appreciated modestly in recent years. The city is undertaking significant development, including the conversion of the former shopping mall into a mixed-use retail and entertainment complex and new affordable housing projects. Schools sit on their own campuses outside the downtown core rather than integrated into the central civic area.
The Marion CUSD 2 district itself has not experienced major recent restructuring or referenda that would reset school operations. The school environment data available did not include information on discipline policies, course offerings, staffing, or chronic absenteeism. Parents interested in those specifics should contact the school directly. State testing cut scores changed in the current year across subjects, so year-to-year comparisons are not reliable.
Lincoln Elementary serves as a solid elementary option in a growing community, with particular strength in the lower grades and performance that compares favorably to its county peers.
See more original research from School Decision →