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Below Average

#3202 of 3,813 schools in IL

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch

Middle School · Freeport SD 145

1717 W Eby St, Freeport, IL 61032

Enrollment

437

Student-Teacher

12.9:1

Score

4.6

Grades

5th – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Illinois schools

#3,202 of 3,813

In Freeport

#4 of 8

public schools

In district

#4 of 8

Freeport SD 145

School environment

7.6 / 10

Very Good

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Carl Sandburg Middle Sch

4.6/10

Middle School in Freeport · grades 5th – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Empire Elem School

3.1/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Lincoln-douglas Elementary School

3.8/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Carl Sandburg Middle Sch

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch is a public middle school in Freeport, IL, part of Freeport SD 145. Carl Sandburg Middle Sch serves approximately 437 students, and covers grades 5th-6th, and has a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Carl Sandburg Middle Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #3,202 of 3,813 schools in IL.

Structured state assessment records for Carl Sandburg Middle Sch show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 4.6 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.4
  • IL avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

36% of students at Carl Sandburg Middle Sch were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.2Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-6.72 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency10% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency16% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency13% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)16% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-2.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$22,580
Chronic Absenteeism36.2%

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch — Students at Carl Sandburg Middle Sch score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 16%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

73%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 33.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 35.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
80%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
45%
ELA
53%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
9%
ELA
21%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
21%
2017
Math
15%
ELA
19%
2018
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2019
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2020*
Math
10%
ELA
10%
2021*
Math
10%
ELA
10%
2022
ELA
16%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.2/10.

How Carl Sandburg Middle Sch Compares

See how Carl Sandburg Middle Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
16th percentile in IL
Academic
5.1/10
Average
Growth
2.2/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.6/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
73%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
36.2%

Location

1717 W Eby St, Freeport, IL 61032

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Carl Sandburg Middle Sch may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Lena-Winslow Jr High School (rated 8.8/10, 10.2 miles away, in nearby Lena), which scores notably higher. Another option is Orangeville Jr High School (rated 7.8/10, 12.3 miles away, in nearby Orangeville), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Pearl City Jr High School (rated 7.3/10, 9.1 miles away, in nearby Pearl City), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Freeport, see our Freeport schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Empire Elem School Freeport 0.5 mi 3.1
Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School Freeport 0.8 mi 3.8
Jones-Farrar Intl Baccalaureate Freeport 1.0 mi 5.4
Freeport Middle School Freeport 1.3 mi 4.3
Freeport High School Freeport 1.3 mi 5.7
Blackhawk Elem School Freeport 1.6 mi 4.5
OPEN BIBLE LEARNING CENTER Freeport 1.6 mi 5.7
Center Elem School Freeport 2.4 mi 8.0
Dakota Elementary School Dakota 9.1 mi 6.0
Dakota Jr Sr High School Dakota 9.2 mi 5.9
Eastland Elementary School Shannon 10.7 mi 8.3
Pearl City High School Pearl City 9.1 mi 6.3
Pearl City Elementary School Pearl City 9.1 mi 7.6
Pearl City Jr High School Pearl City 9.1 mi 7.3
Orangeville Jr High School Orangeville 12.3 mi 7.8
Orangeville High School Orangeville 12.3 mi 7.4
Orangeville Elem School Orangeville 12.3 mi 7.7
Forreston Jr/Sr High Sch Forreston 12.0 mi 5.8
Forreston Grade School Forreston 12.1 mi 6.7
Lena-Winslow Jr High School Lena 10.2 mi 8.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 61032 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,179

Median Home Value

$106,800

Median Rent

$769/mo

Population

29,072

College Educated

20.2%

Homeownership

64.5%

Avg Commute

18.1 min

Poverty Rate

16.6%

Median Age

45.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Benton Grade Sch 5-8 Benton, IL 4.6
Kankakee Junior High School Kankakee, IL 4.6
Riverton Middle School Riverton, IL 4.6
U S Grant Middle School Springfield, IL 4.6
Central Jr High School East Peoria, IL 4.5
Clinton Jr High School Clinton, IL 4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Carl Sandburg Middle Sch

What grades does Carl Sandburg Middle Sch serve?

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch serves students in grades 5th through 6th.

How many students attend Carl Sandburg Middle Sch?

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch has an enrollment of approximately 437 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carl Sandburg Middle Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at Carl Sandburg Middle Sch is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Carl Sandburg Middle Sch rank in IL?

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch ranks #3,202 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Carl Sandburg Middle Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Carl Sandburg Middle Sch?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Carl Sandburg Middle Sch has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Carl Sandburg Middle Sch a charter school?

No, Carl Sandburg Middle Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Carl Sandburg Middle Sch a Title I school?

No, Carl Sandburg Middle Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carl Sandburg Middle Sch?

73.0% of students at Carl Sandburg Middle Sch qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
28 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
53 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 6th
Enrollment
437
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
73.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Stephenson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.2%

District

Freeport SD 145
District Enrollment
3,638
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,580
District Rank
#4 of 8

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