The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairbury Jr-sr High School
Fairbury Jr-Sr High School serves grades seven through twelve in the small rural city of Fairbury, the county seat of Jefferson County. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it is one of three schools in the Fairbury Public Schools district. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic share that is notably larger than the state average for a school of this size. Just over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the community’s economic profile. The school’s enrollment is moderate for a combined junior-senior high school, with roughly equal numbers across each grade.
State assessment results paint a mixed picture. In science, the school’s eighth-grade students post a proficiency rate that is meaningfully higher than the outcomes in reading and math. This is a relative bright spot. In English language arts, the seventh-grade results are somewhere in the middle of the range, but the eighth-grade results show a very low share of students meeting the proficiency bar. In mathematics, both seventh and eighth grades show a proficiency rate of zero percent, meaning no students who took the state assessment in those grades were rated proficient. This is a significant concern. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, as measured by a composite index, places it in the bottom quartile among the three districts in Jefferson County when compared to schools in the same county. The county is small, so the comparison set is limited, but the position is clear.
A graduation rate is not available in the data provided, so it is not possible to assess how well the school supports students through to completion. The school environment and access fields—covering discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance—are also not reported, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about these areas. Programs such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career and technical education are not listed in the available data, which may reflect a gap in reporting rather than an absence of offerings, but it is worth investigating.
The community of Fairbury is a small rural city with a historic downtown that still serves as a regional retail and government center. Manufacturing and health care are the largest employment sectors. The population has been declining over several decades, though the city remains the commercial hub of the county. Housing is affordable relative to the state and national markets, and the school is located within the city limits, integrated into the town fabric. The district’s recent strategic plan is referenced in district materials, but no specific parent-relevant changes—such as boundary adjustments, program additions, or facility updates—were identified in the available web research.
For a family considering this school, the academic data points to serious challenges in math and, to a lesser degree, in middle-school reading. The science results suggest that strong instruction is possible in at least one subject. The school’s small size and rural setting mean a close-knit environment, but the absence of data on course access, staffing, and graduation rates limits a full picture. A parent would be wise to visit, talk to current families, and ask directly about the school’s approach to math instruction, support for struggling readers, and the range of high school course options available.
See more original research from School Decision →