The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in English language arts. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sullivan Elem School
Sullivan Elem School is a regular public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small Central Illinois county seat of Sullivan. The school enrolls students across seven grade bands, with slightly larger cohorts in pre-K and Grade 5 and a slight dip in Grade 4. The student body is predominantly white, with modest representation of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available.
The school's state test results show a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, performance is stronger: third graders achieved proficiency at a rate above the midpoint, and fourth graders performed above that. Fifth-grade ELA proficiency sits below both, though still above the state median. Math proficiency tells a different story. Third grade is above the state midpoint, but fourth grade falls below, and fifth grade drops sharply to well below proficiency benchmarks. Science testing occurred only in Grade 5, where proficiency was below the state median. The school participates fully in state assessments.
Compared to other districts in Moultrie County, Sullivan Elem's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, suggesting stronger average performance than the county's other tested schools. However, a parent may want to look into the school's math instruction and supports in the upper elementary grades, particularly in Grade 5, where multiple subjects show weaker results.
The school benefits from recent capital investment. The district completed a new pre-kindergarten classroom and an elementary school addition in 2023, funded through federal COVID-19 relief money, which expanded early-childhood and classroom capacity without requiring a local tax referendum. For families considering Sullivan, this means newer facilities and dedicated pre-K space are in place.
Sullivan itself is a small manufacturing-based county seat of about 4,400 residents, anchored by a historic courthouse square downtown with locally owned shops and the Little Theatre On The Square, a professional regional theater. The broader economy relies heavily on Agri-Fab (lawn-and-garden equipment) and its sister company Hydro-Gear (drive-systems manufacturing), which together employ a substantial share of the working population. The town markets itself as the north gateway to Lake Shelbyville recreation and sits at the western edge of a large Amish settlement. Housing is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, and the overall area has experienced flat population growth in recent years. Daily civic life centers on Wyman Park, which offers playgrounds, sports fields, fishing, and a skateboard park within walking distance of the downtown square. Sullivan has no urban transit; transportation is car-based.
The broader district, Sullivan CUSD 300, operates just three schools: an elementary school (pre-K through 5), a middle school (5 through 8), and a high school (9 through 12), serving a rural, tight-knit community. In November 2024, voters decided a referendum on whether board members should be elected at large rather than with geographic distribution limits. This governance question reflects ongoing decisions about representation in a small district.
Sullivan Elem is appropriate for families seeking a small, locally rooted elementary school in a quiet, affordable manufacturing town with strong community civic infrastructure. The recent facility expansion suggests active investment in the school plant. The ELA results indicate solid early reading and language foundations, though the mathematics weakness in the upper grades warrants conversation with the school about interventions and instructional approach.
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