Central Grade School

Central Grade School, a mid-sized elementary school in Effingham, Illinois, overseen by Effingham CUSD 40, educates 547 students, covering grades 2 through 5. Compared to the state average of about 381 students per school, that is 44% above typical.

Within Effingham CUSD 40, which oversees 6 schools and 2,261 students, Central Grade School is one campus in the system.

On demographics, Central Grade School records that 88% of students identify as White, making the school strongly White-majority. Other groups include 8% Hispanic, 2% Black.

In terms of school funding signals, Central Grade School reports 43 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 12.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Central Grade School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 47% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Effingham County (around 37%), the school's rate is north of typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Central Grade School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 44.2%; this one delivers 46.2%.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for Effingham County indicate median household income runs about $80,404, 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Central Grade School is one of 18 public schools in Effingham County (combined enrollment of about 5,063 students).

The closest other public school is Early Learning Center, roughly 0.9 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 5 other public schools cluster around Central Grade School. On composite proficiency, Central Grade School comes 4th of 6 in the immediate cluster, behind the nearby-schools average of 58.1%.

The school occupies a low-density site.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked down 18%: 669 students in 2018 compared to 547 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 16.2:1 in 2018 to 12.8:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.