MacArthur Early Childhood Center

MacArthur Early Childhood Center is a micro-enrollment elementary campus in Macomb, Illinois, run under Macomb CUSD 185. The school serves 127 students in grade pre-K. Enrollment runs roughly 67% below the state mean of about 381.

Across the 5 schools in Macomb CUSD 185 (2,075 students total), MacArthur Early Childhood Center accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, MacArthur Early Childhood Center records that White students make up the majority at 63%. Other groups include 16% Black, 12% Hispanic, 9% multiracial. By comparison, McDonough County as a whole is about 86% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

On the resource side, On paper, MacArthur Early Childhood Center has 6 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 21.2:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 13.9:1 average.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (McDonough County) logs that median household income runs about $52,795, about 31% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across McDonough County's 19 public schools (combined enrollment of about 3,250 students), MacArthur Early Childhood Center is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Macomb Senior High School, roughly 0.3 miles away. 4 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

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

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at MacArthur Early Childhood Center has held roughly steady, going from 127 students in 2018 to 127 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 75% to 63% across the same window. Class-load math has narrowed: from 25.4:1 in 2018 to 21.2:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.