Dubois Elem School, Springfield IL

Original Research by School Decision on Dubois Elem School

Dubois Elementary is a small school of about mid-sized enrollment in Springfield's north-downtown area, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is predominantly Black, with a substantial multiracial student population and a smaller share of white students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the proportion of students receiving meal assistance.

The most pressing reality here is academic performance. State assessment data from early 2025 shows proficiency rates well below what families typically see elsewhere. In third-grade math and fourth-grade math, less than one in ten students scored at proficient or advanced levels. Fourth-grade English language arts was similar. Fifth grade performed somewhat better in reading, with just over a quarter of students proficient, but math remained very low. Science in fifth grade also showed low proficiency. These results are in the bottom quartile when compared to other public elementary schools in Sangamon County. The reasons for this performance gap would be worth exploring directly with the school and the district—whether it reflects staffing, curriculum coherence, student support systems, or other factors.

It is worth noting that Illinois changed its proficiency cut scores in 2024-25, which means year-to-year comparison is not straightforward. But the current snapshot is unmistakably weak.

Springfield School District 186, which operates Dubois, is managing significant financial pressure. The district adopted a multi-year deficit reduction plan that includes cutting elementary literacy coaches, right-sizing staff through attrition, and raising some fees. Larger class sizes and fewer support staff are realistic expectations for families entering the district. On the positive side, the district launched a new K-8 reading curriculum (Benchmark Advance) aligned to phonics and the science of reading, effective in 2024-25. This is a foundational shift in how young students are taught to read and could matter meaningfully for student trajectory—if implementation is strong.

Dubois sits in Springfield proper, the state capital, which has a functioning downtown anchored by government offices, hospitals, and historic sites. The medical district and state employment are mainstays of the local economy. Housing values in the 62704 zip code are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks, and rental costs are accessible, making the area economically mixed. Families considering Dubois should have a frank conversation with school leadership about the current academic performance, the district's support systems, and how the school plans to improve outcomes given the broader budget constraints the district faces.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 310%

School 10% · District 29% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 37 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 410%

School 10% · District 26% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 21% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 319%

School 19% · District 32% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 412%

School 12% · District 38% · ▼ 25 pts below district

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 42% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Science

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 29% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolSpringfield SD 186, 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.