Riley Comm Cons School, Marengo IL

Original Research by School Decision on Riley Comm Cons School

Riley Comm Cons School is a small public elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Marengo, a growing city in southwestern McHenry County. The school enrolls about a quarter of what would be typical for its grade span, with a mixed composition: roughly three-quarters of students are white and roughly one-quarter are Hispanic. The free-and-reduced-price lunch rate was not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the economic makeup of the enrollment.

The school sits on Riley Road outside the downtown core. Marengo itself is car-dependent, with no local public transit, though it has a walkable historic downtown along Grant Highway with shops, cafés, and the library. The broader region is experiencing steady growth, with new home construction active across multiple builder subdivisions marketed to families seeking affordable access to Chicago via I-90. The housing market in the area remains moderately priced relative to the state benchmark, with home values and rental costs both showing gradual increases.

On the most recent state assessments, Riley's results show a mixed picture with considerable grade-by-grade variation. In reading and language arts, performance ranges widely: third grade sits solidly in the upper range, fourth and fifth grade show strength, but seventh grade dips considerably. In math, the pattern is starker. Third grade is solid, but proficiency drops sharply by fifth grade, recovers somewhat in sixth grade, and remains relatively low through eighth grade. Science data is limited to grades five and eight, where results are closer to middle ground. Across all tested grades and subjects combined, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in McHenry County, a strength worth noting; however, the variation across individual grade levels and the consistent softness in upper-grade math suggest that some students may face difficulty with foundational skills as they progress.

The school's enrollment is relatively stable across grades, though the total school population is small. State testing data showed near-universal participation, indicating the assessments capture performance across the enrolled population. No data was available on special education identification, English learner enrollment, chronic absenteeism, or other student support metrics, so parents should ask the school about these directly. The school maintains regular public school status and is not a charter, magnet, or Title I designated school based on available records.

Riley CCSD 18 is a single-school district. A tri-district reorganization study involving this district and two others has been discussed publicly, but no consolidation referendum appears to have advanced to the ballot, and no major curriculum, operational, or tax changes of lasting parent impact were confirmed in recent reporting. Parents interested in broader district strategy and future direction may find limited public information and should reach out to the district office for current strategic priorities.

The surrounding area offers community anchors including the Marengo-Union Library District, the Marengo Park District with a pool and fitness center, and the Marengo Ridge Conservation Area for outdoor recreation. The nearest Metra commuter rail is in nearby Harvard and Woodstock; most residents rely on cars for commuting to Chicago or other centers.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 373%

School 73% · District 73%

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 460%

School 60% · District 60%

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

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 656%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 743%

School 43% · District 43%

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

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 50%

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

English language arts

Grade 358%

School 58% · District 58%

▲ 14 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 480%

School 80% · District 80%

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

Grade 575%

School 75% · District 75%

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

Grade 674%

School 74% · District 74%

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

Grade 766%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 874%

School 74% · District 74%

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

Science

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 50%

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

Grade 865%

School 65% · District 65%

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

This schoolRiley CCSD 18, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income50%Higher-income45%5 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income31%Higher-income41%10 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income31%Higher-income40%9 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income23%Higher-income56%32 pp gap