The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Science. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sherrard Jr High School
Sherrard Jr High School serves grades seven and eight in a small rural school in northwestern Illinois, part of Sherrard CUSD 200. The school sits on a rural campus outside the village proper, where most families either live in the compact village of Sherrard itself or commute from the surrounding farmland or the Fyre Lake residential development on the outskirts. The enrollment is small, with roughly equal numbers in each grade.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small representation of other racial and ethnic groups. Demographic data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learners were not available, so a parent should ask the school directly about the socioeconomic composition and any specialized services for students who may need them.
In math, performance in grade seven was in the mid-range, with just over one-third of students proficient. Grade eight math proficiency was notably lower, at roughly one in five students meeting the proficiency standard. The state assessment changed its cut scores this year, so year-to-year comparisons are not straightforward; a parent may want to ask the school how they are addressing the drop in eighth-grade math performance and what supports exist for students below grade level.
English language arts results were somewhat stronger. Grade seven ELA proficiency was at roughly the mid-40-percent mark, and grade eight ELA matched that level. Science proficiency in grade eight reached nearly three-fifths of students. Test participation rates were very high across subjects.
Against other districts in Rock Island County, Sherrard Jr High's overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile—a meaningful strength. The school's peer environment is stable and small, with the kind of tight-knit rural setting where students are known to staff. The district has recently invested in infrastructure, including an expansion at the elementary building and capital improvements across the school portfolio, suggesting ongoing attention to facilities and learning conditions.
The broader context is a very small village with limited commercial or civic infrastructure, where most families who do not work locally commute to the Quad Cities. Housing values and affordability are moderate compared to state and national benchmarks. The district's tax rate is among the lowest in the surrounding area, a factor some families will weigh. A three-year labor contract ratified in 2024 provides multi-year staffing stability through 2026-27, with two additional emergency days added to the calendar.
This school fits families who value a small, known setting and rural character, accept the reality that most daily needs require a drive to nearby towns, and are comfortable with academic performance that is solid by county comparison but shows some gaps in eighth-grade math that warrant direct conversation with the school.
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