Washington Elem School

Washington Elem School operates as a tight-knit elementary campus in Pana, Illinois, run under Pana CUSD 8. Current enrollment sits at 295 students spanning grades pre-K through 2. Compared to the state average of about 381 students per school, that is 23% below typical.

Across the 4 schools in Pana CUSD 8 (1,454 students total), Washington Elem School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Washington Elem School records that the student body is overwhelmingly White (96%). Other groups include 3% multiracial. Compared to Christian County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

On the resource side, On paper, Washington Elem School has 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Washington Elem School higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 69% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is higher than Christian County's rate of about 50%.

Across the wider county, Christian County reports that the typical household earns roughly $62,611 per year, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. In all, Christian County runs 19 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,740 students), of which Washington Elem School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Pana Jr High School, around 0.5 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 3 other public schools cluster around Washington Elem School.

The campus sits in a small-town setting.

Over the past 6-year window. Looking back 6 years, enrollment at Washington Elem School has shrank 12%, going from 335 students in 2018 to 295 in 2024. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 18.6:1 in 2018 to 16.3:1 today.

On allk12, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.