The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Plank Junior High
Plank Junior High serves sixth through eighth grade in Oswego, Illinois, and is part of Cusd 308, a district that has grown substantially with the suburban expansion of Kendall County. The school enrolls roughly equal cohorts across its three grades, with a student body that is roughly half white, a significant share Hispanic, a meaningful share Black, and a small share Asian and multiracial students. Free-and-reduced-price-lunch data and English learner counts were not available, as was information about special education enrollment, so a parent looking for detail on those populations may want to contact the school directly.
State test results show a pattern: Plank's strongest performance is in English language arts, where sixth, seventh, and eighth graders show proficiency rates in the lower to mid-range. In math, however, proficiency is considerably lower across all three tested grades, sitting well below the English results. The school's science proficiency, measured in eighth grade, falls between the two. Across all tests, participation rates are very high, suggesting nearly universal testing engagement. The proficiency scores have prompted the school's position in the county comparison: relative to other districts in Kendall County, Plank's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. This is a straightforward fact: the school's state test performance is currently weaker than the majority of other schools in the county.
The school is part of a district navigating infrastructure questions. Many Cusd 308 buildings, including those serving this era of enrollment, were built during the early-2000s growth wave and now require upgrades to HVAC, roofs, and flooring. A bond referendum for November 2026 is being considered to address these needs. Parents considering the school may want to track that decision, since facility condition and capital planning often affect daily learning environment and property-tax obligations for the household.
Oswego itself is a fast-growing suburb anchored by Route 34 commercial corridors, historic downtown riverfront civic spaces, and large residential subdivisions. Major new housing projects, including single-family and multi-family developments, are under way. The community is car-oriented outside the small walkable downtown, and families are heavily concentrated in suburban neighborhoods. The school's address on Secretariat Lane places it in one of those dispersed residential zones, typical for the district's middle schools.
For a parent considering Plank, the main takeaway is that this is a junior high in a growing, family-oriented suburb whose current test results are below county averages in math and science, though English performance is higher. The school provides a standard public junior high pathway in a district that has recently updated its math curriculum toward problem-based inquiry. Whether Plank is the right fit depends on your child's academic needs, your household's comfort with below-county-average state test data, and your read on whether the instructional changes now in place will move results forward.
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