The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Social studies. The lowest is 47% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on J C Mckenna Middle
J C McKenna Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade as the sole public middle school in the Evansville Community School District, a small city in Rock County that sits about a thirty-minute drive south of Madison. The school environment reflects the character of Evansville itself: a historic community that has been growing at a notable pace, with a civic life that centers on a walkable Main Street lined with brick pavers and a well-preserved collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century architecture. The city is compact, so the school campus sits within easy reach of the town's parks, library, and downtown.
The student body of the middle school is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and an even smaller share of students identifying with two or more races. Roughly one-quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that positions the school as serving a moderate level of economic diversity for the region. The school is a regular public school; it is not a charter or magnet school.
On the Wisconsin Forward state assessments, J C McKenna Middle posted proficiency results that place the school above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Rock County. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was solid across all three grades, with the seventh and eighth grade results noticeably stronger than the sixth grade mark. Math proficiency was more variable: sixth and seventh grade results were similar to the school's ELA numbers, but eighth grade math dropped by a visible margin. Science, tested only in eighth grade, showed a proficiency rate that was lower than the school's ELA and social studies results for that grade. Social studies, also tested in eighth grade alone, was the school's strongest subject, with a large majority of students reaching proficiency. The participation rate on all tests was near universal, which means the reported results give a complete picture of student performance rather than reflecting a selective testing pool. The school does not have a reported graduation rate, as it serves only middle grades.
Families considering this school should know that academic achievement across subjects and grades is generally around the middle of the pack for Rock County, with some clear bright spots in seventh and eighth grade ELA. The dip in eighth grade math and the lower science proficiency rate are areas a parent might want to look into further with the school to understand what supports are available. The district did not have any recent major policy changes or facility updates that surfaced in the search conducted, so the school's programming appears to be operating on a stable, long-standing footing.
The housing market in Evansville has been shifting, with property values rising at a pace above state and national averages. A typical home in the local zip code carries a price tag above the Wisconsin median. The area has seen population growth in recent years, which can translate into steady enrollment pressure on the school. For a family moving into the area, the affordability calculus matters: the estimated monthly mortgage on a median-priced home is notably higher than the estimated rent in the area, making the entry cost for homeownership a real consideration. The broader economic picture shows a national unemployment rate that has been steady in the low single digits, and a 30-year mortgage rate that has fluctuated around the mid-six percent range, which shapes the housing decisions of prospective buyers.
The school is the only middle school in the district, which means all public middle school students in Evansville attend here. For a family, that creates a single feeder experience from the district's elementary schools into a known building, then on to Evansville High School. The student peer environment is demographically relatively homogeneous, shaped largely by the town's overall population characteristics. The lack of a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data is expected for a middle school that does not graduate students and may not report attendance in the same way high schools do. The school does not have publicly reported data on special education or English learner populations, a gap that means families with children in those programs would want to contact the school directly for details on services and staffing.
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