North Wamac Grade School

North Wamac Grade School is one of the one-room-style elementary-level communitys in Centralia, Illinois, overseen by North Wamac SD 186, with 122 students on its rolls from grades K through 8. By comparison, Illinois's public schools average about 381 students each, so North Wamac Grade School sits 68% below that benchmark.

North Wamac SD 186 is the operating authority for North Wamac Grade School, handling staffing, calendars, and reporting to the state department of education.

On the student-mix side, North Wamac Grade School reports that White students make up the majority at 79%. Other groups include 9% multiracial, 8% Hispanic, 4% Black. By comparison, Clinton County as a whole is about 91% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, North Wamac Grade School logs 9 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 13.6:1. The state averages about 13.9:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. An estimated 93% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Clinton County (around 36%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

After controlling for student poverty, North Wamac Grade School is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 18.0%; this one delivers 41.2%, a residual of +23.2 points.

Around the school, the surrounding county (Clinton County) shows that median household income runs about $86,588, 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Clinton County's 19 public schools (combined enrollment of about 5,278 students), North Wamac Grade School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Willow Grove Elem School, roughly 0.7 miles away. 7 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts North Wamac Grade School at 2nd of 7; the average score across the group is 32.9%.

The campus sits in a town-center setting.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at North Wamac Grade School has stayed largely flat, going from 121 students in 2018 to 122 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 84% to 79% across the same window.

On the community side, 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.