The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Science. The lowest is 57% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Marie Schaefer Elem School
Marie Schaefer Elementary School serves children in prekindergarten through fifth grade across a school of modest size. The enrollment spans a socioeconomic and racial mix: a substantial share of students identify as white, with meaningful enrollment of Black students, students of Asian descent, and smaller populations of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The school's geographic position is in O'Fallon, Illinois, a mid-sized suburban city in the Metro East, about a short drive from Scott Air Force Base and closer to Downtown St. Louis. O'Fallon has grown from coal-mining and railroad roots into one of Southern Illinois' largest residential centers, with a historic walkable downtown district anchored by the Vine Street Market and newer highway-oriented commercial areas. The city's recent development has shifted toward multifamily housing and senior living alongside established single-family neighborhoods.
On state assessment results, the school shows mixed performance. In math, students in third grade achieved proficiency rates in the mid-range, fourth grade dipped lower, and fifth grade recovered slightly. English language arts shows a similar pattern, with third grade around the half-way mark, fourth grade climbing higher, and fifth grade holding steady. In science, fifth-grade students achieved proficiency at a rate comparable to their ELA performance. The data reflects variation across grades; a parent looking at these numbers should recognize that outcomes differ substantially depending on the grade level and subject. Participation rates are high across all tested grades, exceeding ninety percent. No trend data was available, so whether performance is improving or declining over time cannot be determined from this information.
When positioned against the other districts in St. Clair County, Marie Schaefer's overall proficiency index falls above the midpoint. This is a meaningful indicator: the school's academic standing, measured across all tested subjects and grades, ranks higher than the median among its county peers.
The school does not report data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, or English learner populations, so a clear picture of economic disadvantage or language support needs within the school is not available. Enrollment is not tiny; the school runs large enough to support full grade bands across the early elementary span. Grade-level classes range from fewer than one hundred students to just over one hundred, a typical size for elementary schools in suburban districts.
Housing in the O'Fallon area, where families pursuing enrollment at Marie Schaefer would likely live, remains in the lower-to-moderate range for the region. Home values have ticked up modestly year over year, and monthly rents are climbing gradually. The rental market reflects modest supply growth and moderate demand. O'Fallon CCSD 90, the district housing Marie Schaefer, has pursued successive large property-tax levy increases in recent years, and in early 2024 the board approved a substantial working-cash bond without a voter referendum. These actions have added meaningful long-term debt that will be repaid through property taxes. A parent weighing enrollment and a future home purchase in the district should factor these levy and debt decisions into expectations for the local property-tax burden going forward.
The school sits within a district that serves an established suburban community, not a high-growth corridor. Civic and recreational anchors in O'Fallon, such as the Family Sports Park and McKendree Metro Rec Plex, sit along highway corridors rather than in walking proximity to residential neighborhoods. The walkable Downtown District offers shops, restaurants, and summer events, but most schools and newer housing are dispersed across suburban subdivisions. Marie Schaefer offers a traditional elementary pathway in a stable, mixed suburban setting with above-county-midpoint academic standing, though with meaningful variation in outcomes across grades and subjects that a parent may want to look into further with the school.
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