The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Shiloh Park Middle School
Shiloh Park Middle School serves a school population that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with about an equal split between sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. The school sits in Zion, a residential city in northern Lake County near the Wisconsin border, where the housing market has shown modest growth and remains relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks. Median home values in the Zion area rest below the state average, and rental housing is similarly priced for the region.
The academic picture at Shiloh Park is concerning. State testing data from 2024-25 shows proficiency rates well below what most districts achieve. In mathematics, fewer than one in ten sixth and seventh graders, and roughly one in twenty eighth graders, scored at the proficient level. English language arts proficiency was higher but still low, with roughly one in five sixth and seventh graders meeting the standard and about one in four eighth graders doing so. Science proficiency in eighth grade was around seven percent. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Lake County. Student participation in testing was solid and consistent, above ninety-five percent in nearly every grade and subject, so these results reflect actual performance rather than testing gaps.
The data provided does not include information about free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner enrollment, or students with individualized education programs, so a full picture of student need cannot be assembled here. State testing data for grades three through five, which the school does not serve, also does not appear. No information was available about staffing, course offerings, attendance patterns, or discipline policies. A parent may want to look into these areas directly with the school to understand how it is responding to the low proficiency numbers and what support systems are in place.
Zion ESD 6, the district that operates Shiloh Park, was recently awarded an Illinois Property Tax Relief Grant. Under this program, the district will reduce local property taxes and replace that revenue with state funding, with the grant amount becoming permanent in the district's state funding base. For families considering the area, this means property-tax relief is now in effect.
The community context is relevant. Zion itself is a quiet, modestly priced residential city with a young median age and a Hispanic and Black plurality. Parks, including the large Shiloh Park complex with its bandshell and recreational facilities, serve as civic anchors. Metra's Union Pacific North Line connects the city to Chicago, and the local economy relies on a regional cancer hospital and manufacturing and retail sectors. Growth is flat; population has been essentially level since 2020. The city's housing stock is older, with limited new construction, and about two-thirds of homes are owner-occupied.
Shiloh Park is a regular public middle school without selective admissions or a specialized program focus. For families in the area, it is the neighborhood school option for grades six through eight. The low proficiency results are a significant factor that warrants conversation with the school administration about curriculum, instruction, and student support before enrollment.
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