The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on North Elem School
North Elem School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in Nokomis, a small rural city in eastern Montgomery County. The school sits within a town of modest but stable character: a compact downtown along Illinois Route 16, older residential neighborhoods, and an economy anchored in small manufacturing, agriculture, and local services. Housing here is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with recent home values appreciating modestly. The town itself is pursuing downtown revitalization and housing initiatives rather than experiencing rapid growth, which shapes the school's enrollment and community context.
At North Elem, enrollment is small and stable, with about that size for an elementary building serving the grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic population and very few students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Detailed enrollment by free-or-reduced-price lunch status and special populations such as English learners or students with IEPs was not available in the school's reported data, so a parent seeking that breakdown should ask the school directly.
On Illinois state assessment (IAR) proficiency rates, North Elem shows mixed results that warrant close attention. In third-grade math and English language arts, proficiency rates sit in the low-to-mid range. Fourth grade math improves modestly, while fifth grade ELA performs notably better, at a level above the school's results in other grades and subjects. Fifth-grade math and science fall in the mid-range. The pattern suggests strength emerging in the upper elementary grades, particularly in reading and language arts by fifth grade, though math proficiency across the building remains below the midpoint. Performance on state science assessment in fifth grade is moderate. The school achieved full test participation, a positive indicator of inclusion and data completeness.
When positioned against the four other school districts in Montgomery County, North Elem's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint. This is a straightforward data point for parents to know: the school's academic performance, measured across tested subjects and grades, places it in the lower half of its county cohort. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place, how the school approaches instruction in math, and what is driving the stronger ELA results in fifth grade.
The district has undertaken substantial facility improvements in recent years. A multi-phase renovation program culminated in summer work on the elementary school building, plus upgrades to science classrooms and gymnasiums at the junior/senior high school. A March 2025 tornado caused additional gym damage that prompted further repairs; the school year start was delayed one week to accommodate construction. These are real investments in infrastructure that parents notice, though they do not directly impact classroom instruction.
The broader Nokomis CUSD 22 district has also launched an Education Pathways program for students considering teaching as a career, expanding vocational and career-track options at the high school level. While North Elem itself serves only elementary grades and is not directly affected, this signals district attention to career preparation and alternative academic pathways for older students.
Nokomis is a walkable town with a functional downtown, a small public library that partners with the school through the state's Cards for Kids program, and modest civic anchors like Memorial Park. There is no fixed-route public transit; residents shop and work partly in town and partly by driving to nearby Hillsboro, Pana, and larger centers like Taylorville and Springfield. The housing stock is older and affordable; families considering the area will find that it suits a quiet, small-town lifestyle where school and civic life are woven into the town fabric rather than isolated on campuses.
For families drawn to rural, small-town settings and seeking an elementary school with newer facility infrastructure, North Elem fits that profile. For families prioritizing high academic proficiency or looking for evidence of strong achievement across all subjects and grades, the state assessment data shows this school is working at a level below its county peers, and that gap merits direct conversation with school leadership about academic strategy, support systems, and how they plan to raise proficiency, especially in mathematics.
See more original research from School Decision →