Zadok Casey Middle School, Mount Vernon IL

Original Research by School Decision on Zadok Casey Middle School

Zadok Casey Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in Mount Vernon, a small manufacturing and distribution hub in southern Illinois. The school is part of Mount Vernon School District 80, the city's public K-8 system.

The most recent state testing data paints a picture of substantial academic challenge. In mathematics, proficiency is notably low across all three grades the school serves. Sixth graders reached proficiency at a rate below one in ten, seventh graders at roughly one in seven, and eighth graders below one in ten. English language arts shows somewhat better results. Eighth graders achieved proficiency at a rate approaching two in five, sixth graders at just under three in ten, and seventh graders at roughly one in four. Science proficiency for eighth grade, the only year tested, sits around one in four. All three subjects have had their state proficiency standards adjusted in the current testing year, so direct comparison to prior years is not available, but the current numbers reflect that most students are not meeting grade-level standards on state assessments.

The school's enrollment is small to mid-sized for a middle school, with a roughly balanced composition across the three grades. The student body is diverse in racial and ethnic background, with roughly half white students, about one in three Black students, one in eight students of two or more races, and smaller numbers of Asian and Hispanic students. The school participates in state testing at high rates; participation exceeds 98 percent across all grades and subjects reported.

The neighborhood is experiencing slow population decline but active revitalization efforts. Mount Vernon is anchored by large employers like Continental Tire and a Walgreens distribution center, along with healthcare and smaller manufacturing. The housing market in the area is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, with median home values reflecting modest appreciation and rental costs that are low relative to local incomes. The city has recently completed a community revitalization plan focused on infill development and has offered free city-owned lots to homebuyers.

What families may want to explore with the school is how the mathematics proficiency gaps are being addressed, what supports exist for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards, and what the trajectory of performance has been prior to this year's assessment changes. The English language arts results show more students meeting proficiency, particularly in grade eight, suggesting instruction may vary by subject or grade. Knowing more about remediation, tutoring, and intervention pathways available to middle school students would help parents assess how their child might be supported.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 67%

School 7% · District 7%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 715%

School 15% · District 15%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 89%

School 9% · District 9%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 629%

School 29% · District 29%

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 838%

School 38% · District 37%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Science

Grade 827%

School 27% · District 27%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

This schoolMount Vernon SD 80, 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.