The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in Science. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cedar Ridge Elem School
Cedar Ridge Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Bloomington and currently enrolls a school of about average size for its grade band. The student body is racially and ethnically mixed, with roughly equal shares of white students and Hispanic students, substantial Black enrollment, smaller Asian and multiracial populations, and very small numbers of American Indian and Native Hawaiian students. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and enrollment of English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the economic background of students and whether the school provides language support.
On state assessments administered in spring 2025, Cedar Ridge's proficiency results in math and English language arts are notably low. In third grade, roughly one in five students met proficiency standards in math and English. In fourth grade, roughly one in six proved proficient in math, and roughly one in five in English. Fifth grade showed the steepest gap: proficiency in math fell to roughly one in thirteen, though English language arts rose slightly to roughly three in ten. In fifth-grade science, roughly one in four students met proficiency. These figures place Cedar Ridge in the bottom quartile of elementary schools among McLean County's districts on overall proficiency. A parent may want to ask the school about the factors driving these results, what interventions or reading and math supports are in place, and what trajectory the school expects in coming years. The state assessment cut scores also changed this year, so direct year-over-year comparison is not possible; the school itself would be the best source for context on whether results represent a decline, stability, or other change.
Bloomington is a mid-sized central Illinois city anchored by State Farm Insurance and other white-collar employers, with a historic downtown and corporate office campuses on the edges. The area is experiencing constrained growth: regional labor demand is rising sharply because of major manufacturing and distribution investments nearby, but new housing construction is lagging behind needs. Home values in the 61704 zip code (which includes Cedar Ridge's attendance area) are moderate for the region and have risen modestly year over year. Rents have climbed more noticeably and represent a meaningful share of household income for renters. The local economy is stable, with low unemployment, and median household income regionally is healthy, though housing affordability remains a pressure point as demand outpaces supply.
McLean County Unit 5 Schools, the district serving Cedar Ridge, has undergone two major funding shifts in the past two years that strengthen the district's financial footing and shape its direction. In April 2023, voters approved a property tax increase for the education fund after rejecting it in November 2022; the increase took effect with the 2024 levy and averted a planned roster of cuts to field trips, junior high athletics, extracurriculars, and music. In April 2025, County voters approved a sales tax for school facilities that is expected to generate substantial annual revenue to be split among all county districts based on enrollment. One third of that revenue is earmarked to reduce property taxes, and the remainder funds facility improvements, school safety and mental health services. These shifts represent durable moves toward diversified and more stable funding.
In 2025-2026, the district completed a comprehensive enrollment and boundary study. The school board voted in April 2026 on a plan that would adjust attendance boundaries across the district, with implementation beginning in 2027-2028. Cedar Ridge is one of the schools noted as experiencing crowding. The plan would affect hundreds of students district-wide but would grandfather currently enrolled students at their current school. Families with younger children in the Bloomington area should review the boundary proposal if they are considering Cedar Ridge or planning ahead, as it signals where the district expects enrollment pressure and signals future facility changes.
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