The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Whiteside Elem School
Whiteside Elementary School in Belleville serves a small school body spanning pre-K through fourth grade in this county seat and St. Louis suburb. The school sits in a mixed-income residential area with a historically rooted downtown and outer commercial corridors, and is home to a significant military and federal population tied to nearby Scott Air Force Base.
The student body reflects St. Clair County's diversity. A majority of students identify as Black, with substantial shares identifying as white or as two or more races, and smaller populations of Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian students. The school carries no Title I designation status in the data provided, and family income distribution is not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility to understand the economic profile of the community.
On state testing, Whiteside's scores show room for growth. In mathematics, third graders reached proficiency at a modest rate, and fourth graders scored lower still. In English language arts, third and fourth graders posted proficiency rates in a comparable range. These results fall below the midpoint for overall proficiency when compared to the other districts in St. Clair County, placing Whiteside among the lower-performing schools in the region. A parent should understand that this is not a school where most students are yet meeting grade-level standards. The data available covers only grades three and four; no results are reported for grades five and above, because the school does not serve those grades. Testing participation was complete in both subjects where data exist.
Enrollment is small, around a typical size for a self-contained elementary school, with fairly balanced cohorts across the grade band and a slightly larger second-grade class. The school runs a regular public program with no charter or magnet designation. It is part of Whiteside School District 115, a small district based on this single building.
A significant near-term development will reshape the school's physical footprint and daily experience. In early 2024, voters approved a bond measure to fund a substantial addition to the building. The project, which began construction in 2025, will add six new classrooms, a therapy and intervention room, additional restrooms, a new playground, and secured entrances. This work will eliminate the aging mobile classrooms that currently house pre-K and early childhood programs and bring those students into the main building. For families, this means a move away from mobile-classroom conditions and a consolidated, more accessible facility. It also means that the district has committed bond dollars and corresponding property tax impacts to invest in the infrastructure. The upgrade addresses concerns around accessibility, security, and exposure to weather.
Belleville itself is a mixed-use place where civic life anchors around a historic downtown with preserved 19th-century architecture, local shops, restaurants, and galleries. Three MetroLink light rail stations serve the city, connecting to St. Louis. The housing market has tightened in recent months, with prices climbing and homes moving faster than the year before. Home values and rents in the area are below state and national benchmarks, making housing relatively affordable on a per-square-foot basis. The local economy relies on healthcare, education, government, and military employment through Scott Air Force Base.
For a parent evaluating Whiteside Elementary, the key questions are the school's commitment to raising academic proficiency (the data show students are not yet meeting standards at high rates), what supports the new facility will unlock for intervention and therapy services, and whether the small-school, elementary-only structure fits your child's needs. Given the modest test scores, asking the school about its literacy and math curriculum, any tutoring or interventions offered, and how teachers are being supported to improve proficiency would be important follow-ups.
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