The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elem School
Lincoln Elementary School serves a small town of roughly eight thousand residents in north-central Illinois, a spot where the Illinois and Vermilion Rivers meet. The school sits at the intersection of a traditional, walkable downtown anchored by independent businesses and local civic life, and the economic pull of nearby state parks and small-scale industrial presence. Most families in the district are white, with a meaningful Hispanic enrollment and a small number of Black and multiracial students. The school is not large: total enrollment is around three hundred thirty students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, with roughly balanced cohorts at each level except pre-K, which draws a notably larger group.
State assessment results from 2024-25 show proficiency rates well below what appears typical for this part of Illinois. In third-grade math and English language arts, proficiency hovered near or below half; fourth-grade math proficiency dropped sharply to below one in five. Fifth grade showed somewhat stronger results in both math and language arts, with proficiency near half, and in science at fifth grade it sat near one in three. These patterns suggest uneven student learning across grades and subjects, with fourth grade presenting a particular dip. The school tested all students who were enrolled in tested grades, so participation was complete. It is worth noting that Illinois changed proficiency cut scores for 2024-25, which means direct year-to-year trends cannot be reliably computed, and the school has only one year of data under the new benchmarks.
In the county-districts comparison framework, Lincoln Elementary's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in LaSalle County. Readers accustomed to looking at proficiency rates in other regions of Illinois may find this positioning worth exploring further with the school itself, as it may reflect local conditions, student mobility, family economics, or other factors not visible in the enrollment and demographic snapshots.
Demographic composition is predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up a modest share of enrollment and very small counts of Black and multiracial students. Specific data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner populations were not available. The school building sits on Bennett Avenue in a residential neighborhood.
The wider town context is one of modest housing demand and relatively stable, affordable property values. Median home sale prices in the zip code are in the modest range for Illinois, and monthly housing costs remain well below state medians. The town's economy centers on a community college, food and natural products distribution, agricultural retail, and tourism anchored by state parks. Downtown Oglesby maintains a classic small-town character with local businesses, seasonal festivals, and walkable sidewalks. Population has been essentially flat for several years, suggesting neither rapid growth nor sharp decline. Interstate access via Exit 54 supports some light commercial and logistics activity on the outskirts, but the core identity remains residential and downtown-oriented.
Oglesby Elementary School District 125 did not report publicly available referenda or major curriculum or facilities initiatives during the review window, indicating routine operations without documented sweeping changes. No data was found on staff size, programs beyond core academics, or attendance trends, so a reader interested in those specifics may want to contact the district directly.
For families considering this school, the main question is academic attainment. The state test results show students are not reaching proficiency benchmarks at rates typically seen elsewhere in the state, and fourth grade appears to be a particular point of concern. A parent may want to look into this further with the school: what curriculum or instructional approaches are in use, what support is available for students who are not yet proficient, and what the school's longer-term trend looks like once more years of data accumulate under the current standards. The setting itself is small, quiet, and integrated into a genuine small-town community rather than a sprawl or exurban development; families drawn to that environment and willing to engage closely with the school on its academic progress may find it a good fit.
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