The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Magee Middle School
Magee Middle School is a public sixth through eighth grade school in Round Lake serving a student body that is predominantly Hispanic with substantial diversity across other racial and ethnic groups. The school enrolls roughly a few hundred students, split relatively evenly across the three middle grades. Enrollment data did not include information on English learners or students receiving special education services, and free or reduced price lunch counts were not available, so the economic composition of the school's population remains unclear from the available figures.
The school sits in Round Lake, a diverse, family-oriented suburb north of Chicago in Lake County that has experienced rapid residential growth. The community is served by a downtown centered around a Metra station with modest walkability outside that core; most of Round Lake reads as low-density suburban residential. Housing values in the area reflect a moderate suburban market, and the broader regional employment landscape spans life science, advanced manufacturing, finance, and logistics, with many residents commuting via Metra or highway.
Magee's academic standing carries a significant challenge. State assessment proficiency rates in both mathematics and English language arts are very low across all reported grades. In sixth grade mathematics, proficiency sits in single digits; in seventh and eighth grade mathematics, proficiency hovers just above ten percent. English language arts shows somewhat higher proficiency in sixth grade, around one quarter of students, but drops substantially in seventh and eighth grades, falling below twenty percent. Science proficiency in eighth grade sits at roughly one quarter. These results place the school in the bottom quartile among Lake County districts on an overall proficiency index. Participation rates in state testing were very strong across grades and subjects, so low results do not reflect testing gaps.
Illinois changed its proficiency standards for these assessments beginning in the 2024-25 school year, so direct year-to-year comparison is not possible. This makes it unclear whether these proficiency levels represent a recent shift, a persistent condition, or a change induced by the assessment redesign itself. A parent may want to look into this further with the school and the district.
Round Lake CUSD 116 has undertaken significant structural changes. Beginning fall 2024, the district reorganized its elementary schools into a Partner School model and returned students from an out-of-district placement, shifting which building families' children attend and how grades are grouped. The district also implemented a one-to-one technology program across grades K-12, providing iPads to all students. Additionally, the district recently discovered a substantial budget forecasting error partway through the 2024-25 school year, prompting reductions in administrative staffing and a multiyear plan to address the shortfall. For 2025-26, the district is adopting new mathematics curricula: i-Ready for grades K-8 and VAST Learning for grades 9-11. These changes mean Magee students will experience shifts in instructional tools and core curriculum, and the district context carries financial pressures that may affect staffing and operational stability in the near term.
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