The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Neoga Elementary School
Neoga Elementary School is a small-enrollment school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in a rural Cumberland County community of declining population. The school draws from Neoga's own compact town footprint and serves students whose families primarily live in owner-occupied single-family homes with stable housing values. The overall enrollment is modest, with the younger grades carrying somewhat higher numbers and fifth grade slightly larger, reflecting typical elementary patterns.
The school's test results show mixed proficiency. In English language arts, third-graders perform near the middle of the range, with about three-fifths meeting or exceeding proficiency, while fourth graders perform similarly and fifth graders drop to just under half meeting the standard. Mathematics proficiency is noticeably weaker: third-grade math proficiency is around half, fourth grade falls to roughly a third of students meeting proficiency, and fifth grade sits at slightly better than a third. Science testing data were not reported at the tested grades, likely reflecting the state's limited science assessment schedule at elementary levels. Statewide performance benchmarks were revised in the assessed school year, so comparisons to prior years are not available, but within Cumberland County's two reporting districts, Neoga Elementary's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the county's schools.
The school serves a student body that is predominantly white, with a small multiracial enrollment and minimal representation of Black or Hispanic students. Data on students qualifying for free or reduced price lunch and on students receiving special education or English-language services were not available, preventing a full picture of economically disadvantaged or multilingual populations at the school.
In 2022, the Neoga school district passed a bond referendum for facility upgrades across both buildings without raising the overall property tax burden, a meaningful factor for families in a small town where school is often a central institution. However, an EF2 tornado struck the district on March 15, 2025, severely damaging both school buildings. The elementary school reopened with priority repairs, but the junior-senior high sustained heavy damage and students have been relocated to a temporary modular building. Renovations are expected to continue for several years. This is an ongoing disruption to the physical learning environment and a realistic consideration for any family enrolling now. The school serves a stable rural community with limited commercial and professional job bases; most working adults commute to nearby Mattoon or Effingham for employment.
Neoga Elementary operates as part of a very small district serving one town. The school does not report a graduation rate, as it serves only elementary grades. No information was available about programs, advanced coursework, electives, or specialized offerings beyond the core curriculum.
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