West Central Community Unit School District 235

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 17 towns

Serves Oquawka Township, Stronghurst Township, Oquawka, Stronghurst, Gladstone Township, Biggsville Township, Carman Township, Rozetta Township, Biggsville, Media Township, Gladstone, Terre Haute Township, Media, Raritan Township, Raritan, Gulfport and Bald Bluff Township, and parts of Lomax Township, Ellison Township and Point Pleasant Township.

Students

752

Schools

Spent per student

$15,975

IL $21,567

Students per teacher

11:1

Free or reduced lunch

58%

Debt

$2.4M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about West Central Community Unit School District 235

School Grade D: better than 11% of Illinois districts
Math proficiency 18 pts below the state
Reading / language arts 21 pts below the state
Graduation rate (4-year) 5 pts below the state
Spends 26% less per student than the IL average
11 students per teacher
Debt of $2.4M, about $3,140 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Columbus.

PK–KCentral Early ChildhoodCentral CUSD 3

1–4Central Elementary SchoolCentral CUSD 3

5–8Central Junior High SchoolCentral CUSD 3

9–12Central High SchoolCentral CUSD 3

Test scores vs. IL

2020–21

Math proficiency8%

State average 25.8%

Reading / language arts10%

State average 30.7%

Graduation rate (4-year)82%

State average 87.3%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$15,975 per student · 26% below IL

Spending

Classroom instruction 57%Support & administration 37%Other 6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 51%State 38%Federal 12%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

759’20

738’21

744’22

760’23

752’24

About steady.

Students

White 93%Hispanic 3%Two or more races 3%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Black <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

West Central Elementary School

Elementary · Grades K–5 · Biggsville

C−

321 students11:1

West Central Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Stronghurst

169 students11:1

West Central High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Biggsville

C−

212 students11:1

West Central Early Childhood

Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Biggsville

50 students17:1

Towns served

Oquawka Township 1,659Stronghurst Township 1,087Oquawka 1,059Stronghurst 949Gladstone Township 732Biggsville Township 494Carman Township 483Rozetta Township 311Biggsville 294Media Township 290Gladstone 237Terre Haute Township 174Media 153Raritan Township 152Raritan 134Gulfport 92 Bald Bluff Township 71

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Illini West High School District 307Blandinsville Township, Dallas City Township, Durham Township

$17,108per student

United Community School District 304Hale Township, Sumner Township, Tompkins Township

$18,592per student

Burlington Community School DistrictBurlington

$15,430per student

Mercer County School District 404Abington Township, Keithsburg Township, Ohio Grove Township

$16,966per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.