Raccoon Cons Elem School, Centralia IL

Original Research by School Decision on Raccoon Cons Elem School

Raccoon Cons Elem School serves prekindergarten through eighth grade in Centralia, a working-class south-central Illinois city that has been shrinking over several decades but is seeing localized revival through downtown redevelopment and investment in housing and healthcare. The school is the sole campus in its consolidated district, making it the only K-8 option for families in the area.

The most recent state testing data reveals a bifurcated picture that a parent should understand clearly. In English language arts, the school shows strength in the early and upper grades. Third graders and eighth graders both perform solidly, while fourth and fifth graders also exceed the lower-performing middle grades. The middle grades, particularly sixth and seventh, are where ELA proficiency dips noticeably. In mathematics, the pattern is steeper and more concerning. Third graders post a strong proficiency rate, but fourth through eighth grades all show substantially lower performance, ranging from low to moderate across the band. Fifth graders sit at the midpoint of the four grades tested; sixth and seventh graders fare below that; eighth graders reach roughly a third of tested students proficient. Science data is available only for fifth and eighth grade, with both at roughly the midpoint. Across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the county's districts, a meaningful position that reflects the Blue Ribbon honor the school received in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Education for closing achievement gaps. That recognition carries real weight for families evaluating this school's trajectory and quality.

The enrollment is small, roughly two hundred students across the full nine-grade span, which typical for a rural consolidated district. The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the area's demographics, with other races making up a small share. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and on the share of students receiving special education or English learner services is not available. The school sits on State Route 161 on the working-class side of Centralia. Participation rates in state testing are high, approaching or meeting 100 percent across subjects, indicating the school is fully engaged in assessment.

Centralia itself is a town of mixed economic anchors: SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital is the largest employer, followed by manufacturers in the Industrial Park and Kaskaskia College. The median home value in the 62801 zip code is modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and mortgageability is relatively accessible, suggesting affordable entry for families with stable income. The unemployment rate is moderate. Downtown has been reviving with new apartments and local restaurants, and parks are well-regarded by residents. For families considering this school, the math proficiency challenge in middle grades is the main academic soft spot; parents may want to ask the school directly what supports or curriculum changes are in place to address performance in grades four through eight. The National Blue Ribbon recognition is durable evidence that the school has a track record of closing gaps, and it merits weight in context.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 376%

School 76% · District 76%

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Grade 430%

School 30% · District 30%

▼ 7 pts below state median

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 43%

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 628%

School 28% · District 28%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 733%

School 33% · District 33%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 833%

School 33% · District 33%

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 381%

School 81% · District 81%

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 48 pts above county median

Grade 457%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 9 pts above state median

Grade 571%

School 71% · District 71%

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 656%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 742%

School 42% · District 42%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 881%

School 81% · District 81%

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Science

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 857%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

This schoolRaccoon Cons SD 1, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.