Central Elem

Central Elem, a low-enrollment 6-8 campus in Kewanee, Illinois, overseen by Kewanee CUSD 229, hosts 353 students, covering grades 4 through 6. Compared to the state average of about 462 students per school, that is 24% leaner than typical.

Within Kewanee CUSD 229, which oversees 7 schools and 1,963 students, Central Elem is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, Central Elem shows that 58% of the student body identifies as White. Other groups include 26% Hispanic, 9% Black, 8% multiracial. That is considerably less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 88%.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Central Elem has 24 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.5:1. The state averages around 13.0:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Roughly 73% of students at Central Elem qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is above Henry County's rate of about 43%.

With demographic context factored in, Central Elem sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 29.5%; this one delivers 31.5%.

In the broader community, Henry County reports that the typical household earns roughly $71,911 per year, 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 6%. In all, Henry County runs 28 public schools (combined enrollment of about 7,723 students), of which Central Elem is one.

Central Junior High is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus. 7 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Central Elem ranks 6th on composite proficiency, below the local average of 40.8%.

Geographically, the school is in a town-center area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Central Elem has decreased 9%, going from 390 students in 2018 to 353 in 2025. The White share of enrollment fell from 65% to 58% over that span.

On allk12, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.