The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Shipman Elem School
Shipman Elementary School is a small, rural public school serving grades three and four in southwestern Macoupin County. It sits within Southwestern Community Unit School District 9, a multi-town district that spreads its schools across separate villages: Shipman Elementary handles the lower primary grades here, while the district's middle school and high school campus are located near Piasa, a few miles away. The school's enrollment is small, with roughly equal cohorts in each grade.
In reading, the school's recent test performance is above the midpoint for districts in Macoupin County. Students in grade three showed proficiency rates in the solid range, and grade four matched that level closely, with every student participating in testing. Math performance shows a marked difference between grades. Grade three students achieved proficiency at a meaningful rate, but grade four proficiency dropped noticeably. The school's overall proficiency index positions it in the top quartile among the county's districts on this measure, a strength. Data collection practices appear consistent; participation rates are complete for both grades in both subjects. Grade five and above show no results because the school does not serve those grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with very small numbers of students from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Demographic data on free or reduced lunch eligibility, special education, and English learners was not available. The school's size and rural setting mean it likely reflects the composition of Shipman itself, a village of modest population that has experienced decline over recent years.
Shipman is a small, predominantly residential rural village where most residents own their homes. The housing market is inexpensive relative to the state and national benchmarks. The village has experienced population loss rather than growth, and local employment among residents has also contracted modestly. The broader area is car-dependent with no public transit; residents who work outside the village typically commute to jobs in surrounding towns or the wider St. Louis metro region. There is no dedicated downtown or commercial district to speak of; civic life centers on the school and on access to the county library system through the Brighton Memorial Library branch.
A parent considering this school should understand it as a small, close-knit setting with strong reading outcomes and county-level proficiency standing. The math trajectory between grades three and four warrants a conversation with the school about what accounts for that shift and how students moving into upper grades are supported. The school serves only grades three and four, so families will transition to the district's middle school campus as students progress.
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