The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Chiddix Jr High School
Chiddix Jr High School is a middle school serving grades six through eight in Normal, Illinois, with an enrollment spread fairly evenly across the three grades. The school sits in McLean County USD 5, a district that has just undergone significant funding shifts and is actively managing enrollment pressures as Normal grows.
The most recent state testing data available shows mixed performance. In English language arts, the school shows an upward trajectory by grade: sixth-graders are at about the midpoint of proficiency, seventh-graders slightly above it, and eighth-graders reach a stronger level. Mathematics tells a different story. Sixth-grade math proficiency is notably low, rising somewhat in seventh and eighth grades but staying below the ELA levels at each comparable grade. Science proficiency at eighth grade is in the mid-range. Taken together across subjects and grades, Chiddix's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint compared to other districts in McLean County, a meaningful gap worth acknowledging. State testing also showed strong participation rates across all grades, with nearly all students tested.
The student body is diverse. Just over half the enrollment is white; Asian and Black students each represent a substantial share, with smaller populations of students identifying as multiracial and Hispanic. The school's enrollment data for free or reduced-price lunch and English learners were not available, so parents may want to contact the school directly if school lunch support or English learner services are relevant to their family.
Normal itself is a college town shaped by Illinois State University and increasingly by Rivian's electric vehicle manufacturing plant. It has a walkable downtown anchored by Uptown Normal, with civic institutions clustered near campus and the newly opened Uptown Station serving as a multimodal transit hub. The town is in a growth phase, though the housing market has not kept pace with demand from new employment, and rents and home values have risen accordingly. The broader economic picture includes solid employment levels and mortgage rates in the current range, making housing affordability a real consideration for families moving to the area.
At the district level, two major funding shifts are reshaping Unit 5's finances and stability. Voters approved a property tax increase in 2023 that averted planned cuts to athletics, music, and extracurricular programs. More recently, in April 2025, the county approved a school facilities sales tax expected to generate substantial revenue for building improvements and mental health services, with a portion directed to property tax relief. The district is also implementing a comprehensive boundary and enrollment adjustment beginning in 2027-28 to manage crowding; families should be aware that this may affect attendance zones for future students, though currently enrolled students would be grandfathered.
Chiddix is a regular public middle school in a district with improving financial footing and manageable size. Its academic performance, especially in math, warrants attention, though the upward trend in ELA and strong participation suggest engaged instruction and testing practices. Parents considering this school should ask directly about math support and intervention programs, given the proficiency gaps, and about how the upcoming boundary changes might affect their household if they are planning to stay in the district long-term.
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