The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in Science. The lowest is 14% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Virgil I Bailey Elementary School
Virgil I Bailey Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Lake Station, a community described publicly as a historically bedroom city with a mix of residential areas and industrial employers. The town sits at the junction of multiple interstate highways, which shapes a car-oriented environment, and offers parks such as Riverview Park and Three Rivers Park, plus a branch of the county public library. The school is part of the Lake Station Community Schools district, which also includes a junior-senior high school and another elementary school.
The student body at Virgil I Bailey is notably diverse. The largest groups are Hispanic students and white students, each making up a substantial share of enrollment, followed by students who identify as two or more races and Black students. A very large proportion of students come from low-income households, as indicated by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. This is a school where economic disadvantage is the norm for the student population.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year paint a clear picture of the academic challenges the school faces. In both math and English language arts, the proportion of students scoring at the proficient level or above was well below what many parents would hope to see. The school’s combined proficiency index across all tested subjects and grade levels places it just above the midpoint when compared with the other districts in Lake County. That is a meaningful distinction, as it shows the school is not at the bottom of its county-wide peer group, even if the absolute numbers are low. In science, roughly one in three students reached the proficiency bar, which was a stronger result than in the other subjects. Social studies results, tested only in fifth grade, showed a lower share of students meeting proficiency. The school did achieve full participation on the math and English assessments, which means the results reflect nearly every enrolled student.
A parent looking at these state test numbers should understand what they represent. The school serves a high-poverty population, and research consistently shows that economic context correlates with test scores. That does not make the scores less real, but it does frame them as an outcome the school is working within rather than a simple measure of teacher or program quality. A family considering this school may want to ask the administration directly about what academic interventions and supports are in place for students who are below grade level, and whether there are enrichment opportunities for students who are ahead.
Because the school only goes through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the district brief turned up no recent major changes to the district’s structure or leadership that would be relevant to a parent. Housing values in the area are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and the local economy has a mix of industrial employers such as engineering and chemical companies. The rental market appears affordable by national standards.
Virgil I Bailey is a regular public elementary school serving a diverse, high-need community in a suburban industrial town. The academic results on state tests are low, but the school sits near the middle of its county district peer group, not at the bottom. This is a school whose primary context is economic disadvantage, and a parent evaluating it should weigh the test scores alongside the supports and climate the school provides day to day.
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