Armstrong-Ellis Elem School

Armstrong-Ellis Elem School is an elementary campus of minimally staffed scale in Armstrong, Illinois, one of the schools within Armstrong-Ellis Cons SD 61, works with 81 students in grades K through 8. That puts it 79% smaller than the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 381 students.

Operationally, Armstrong-Ellis Elem School answers to Armstrong-Ellis Cons SD 61, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

In terms of who attends, Armstrong-Ellis Elem School shows that nearly all students (89%) are White. The remainder looks like 6% multiracial, 2% Black. That is visibly more White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 78%.

Looking at school resources, Staff filings list 11 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 7.7:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Armstrong-Ellis Elem School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 41% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Vermilion County runs at roughly 71%, so the school's eligibility rate is meaningfully below the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, Armstrong-Ellis Elem School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 48.0%; this one delivers 54.9%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Vermilion County put median household income runs about $56,877, about 19% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 13%. Armstrong-Ellis Elem School is one of 41 public schools in Vermilion County (combined enrollment of about 11,267 students).

The closest other public school is Armstrong High School, roughly 0.3 miles away. 2 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Armstrong-Ellis Elem School ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, ahead of the local average of 40.6%.

Geographically, the school is in a low-density area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Armstrong-Ellis Elem School's enrollment has ticked up 11% since 2018, when it stood at 73 (now 81). Class-load math has loosened: from 6.2:1 in 2018 to 7.7:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.