The top reported proficiency rate is 11% in Science. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Washington Middle School
Washington Middle School is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Springfield, Illinois, with an enrollment of about five hundred students. The school is part of Springfield SD 186, a district that has recently adopted a new science-of-reading literacy curriculum district-wide and is navigating substantial budget constraints that will reshape staffing and program offerings over the coming years.
The academic results at Washington Middle are a serious concern. In the most recent state testing, the school's proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are exceptionally low. In math, fewer than one in twenty sixth graders met proficiency, and the rates for seventh and eighth graders were even lower, with eighth grade at around one in thirty students proficient. English language arts shows a similar pattern: about one in ten sixth graders and eighth graders met the standard, with seventh grade at roughly one in thirteen. In science, which was tested in eighth grade, about one in nine students met proficiency. These are among the lowest results in the county. Testing participation rates were strong across all grades, so the results reflect actual performance rather than assessment logistics. A parent considering this school should ask district leaders directly about what is driving these outcomes and what specific instructional changes are underway to address them.
The student body is substantially Black, making up roughly half the enrollment, with white students representing about one-third, a significant multiracial population of about one in eight students, and very small numbers of Asian, Hispanic, and Native American students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available for the school, so the economic profile of the family population cannot be assessed from the data provided.
Washington Middle is located on East Jackson Street in Springfield, a state capital city experiencing downtown and medical-district revitalization. The broader Springfield housing market is moderately affordable for the Midwest and the region; median home values are below the state benchmark. Rental costs are also below the state average. The city's economy is anchored by state government, healthcare systems, and education institutions, with major employers including Hospital Sisters Health System, Memorial Medical Center, SIU School of Medicine, and the University of Illinois Springfield.
At the district level, parents should know that Springfield SD 186 is facing a multi-year operating deficit that will result in fewer literacy coaches, right-sized middle and high school staffing through attrition, and larger classes. The district has placed school closures on the table as part of its deficit reduction plan. These changes will affect class sizes and the depth of support services available to students. On the positive side, the district has invested in a new elementary literacy program based on the science of reading and phonics, which will shape how early readers are taught, though this curriculum is at the elementary level and does not directly address middle school instruction.
The comparison data shows that Washington Middle's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Sangamon County. State testing data for graduation rates and chronic absenteeism were not available, as the school does not serve high school grades and attendance data was not reported.
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