West Central Middle School

West Central Middle School is one of the minimally staffed middle-grades schools in Stronghurst, Illinois, run under West Central CUSD 235, with 169 students on its rolls from grades 6 through 8. By comparison, Illinois's public schools average about 462 students each, so West Central Middle School sits 63% leaner than that benchmark.

Across the 4 schools in West Central CUSD 235 (752 students total), West Central Middle School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, West Central Middle School records that the student body is overwhelmingly White (94%). Beyond that, the school shows 4% multiracial. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

On the income-and-resources front, West Central Middle School lists 16 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 10.9:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 13.0:1 average. Around 59% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy.

After controlling for student poverty, West Central Middle School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 37.4% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 25.3%.

In the area at large, Henderson County reports that median household earnings sit near $62,227, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 12%. In all, Henderson County runs 4 public schools (combined enrollment of about 752 students), of which West Central Middle School is one.

West Central Early Childhood is the nearest neighboring public school, about 7.5 miles from this campus. Within ten miles, there are 3 other public schools, a sparser pattern than typical urban areas. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts West Central Middle School at 6th of 7; the average score across the group is 43.4%.

The school occupies a countryside site.

Over the past 7-year window. West Central Middle School's enrollment has grew 10% since 2018, when it stood at 154 (now 169).

Inside the community feed, 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.