The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Magnet School
Lincoln Magnet School serves students in grades six through eight in downtown Springfield, Illinois, at 300 South 11th Street. The school enrolled about a few hundred students across the three middle grades, with the sixth-grade class being the largest. The student body is diverse: roughly half of students are white, with substantial shares of Black and multiracial students, a smaller Asian population, and a very modest Hispanic enrollment.
On state assessments, Lincoln shows a pattern of stronger performance in English language arts than in mathematics. In ELA, students in grades six, seven, and eight scored proficiently at rates well above the midpoint among the county's districts—in the top quartile on a composite proficiency measure. In mathematics, the same grades achieved proficiency rates in the mid-forty-percent range, also landing the school in the top quartile overall when all tested subjects and grades are combined. Science proficiency data was available only for eighth grade, where about two-thirds of students scored at proficient or above. Testing participation was universal across all available assessments. State assessment data for grades three through five do not appear in the records, which is consistent with the school's status as a middle school serving only grades six through eight; those younger grades are not tested by Illinois.
The difference between the school's ELA and math results is striking enough that a parent may want to look further into curriculum, instructional approach, or staffing allocation between the two subjects. The school adopted a new literacy program aligned with phonics and the science of reading district-wide starting in the 2024-2025 school year, which may account for stronger English language arts results going forward.
Springfield itself is the state capital, built around state government, healthcare, and education. Downtown is pedestrian-oriented around the Capitol and Lincoln sites, though the rest of the city is car-dependent. Major employers include hospitals, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the University of Illinois at Springfield, and various education-related insurers and services. The city is pursuing downtown revitalization and new housing—both market-rate and affordable—particularly along key corridors and in medical and government districts. Housing costs in the Springfield zip code are modest relative to national benchmarks, with median home values and rents well below state and national averages.
The district itself is navigating significant budget pressure. Springfield SD 186 has adopted a multi-year deficit reduction plan in response to shrinking federal relief funds and flat state funding. That plan includes cuts to elementary literacy coaching staff, right-sizing of middle and high school positions through attrition, fee increases for driver's education, and scaling back of before- and after-school programs. The board has also placed potential school closures on the table as part of longer-term planning, and larger class sizes are likely as positions go unfilled. The district is also exploring a new elementary school on the city's south side. For families considering this school, these broader district conditions will shape the overall environment and resource availability over the coming years.
No free-or-reduced-price-lunch data, special education enrollment rates, or English learner counts were available in the data provided. Data on graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing detail do not apply to a middle school or were not reported.
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