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Very Good

#989 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 26% in state

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch

Middle School · Central Cusd 301 · Elgin, IL

A Central Cusd 301 middle school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.

225 Nesler Rd, Elgin, IL 60124

  • Math 38% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 60% proficient (2022)
  • 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.0Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency38% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency60% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency49% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+7.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
Resources & Environment3.8Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.7:1
District spending per student$14,741
Chronic Absenteeism12.2%

Students at Prairie Knolls Middle Sch score 49% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.

Math Proficiency38%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency60%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 34 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 60% recently.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
96%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
96%
ELA
93%
2012
Math
78%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
80%
ELA
73%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
41%
2015
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
55%
ELA
69%
2017
Math
55%
ELA
69%
2018
Math
50%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
50%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
38%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
38%
ELA
47%
2022
ELA
60%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

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

Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

17.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Prairie Knolls Middle Sch sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Chicago map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 4Car-Dependent
  • Transit 0Minimal Transit
  • Bike 50Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,372/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Elgin), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$135,350

Median home value

$403,300

Median rent

$1,956/mo

College educated

49.9%

Homeownership

93.9%

Poverty rate

2.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60124; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Westminster Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition5.3privatePK–122.2 mi304Compare →
Harvest Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition5.9privatePK–122.5 mi444Compare →
Kimball Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.97–83.4 mi492Compare →
Abbott Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.27–83.7 mi560Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Central Cusd 301

Schools in district
7
Rank in district
#3 of 7
District spending per student
$14,741NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
3.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is listed in Central CUSD 301; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Prairie Knolls Middle Sch

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is a public middle school in Elgin, IL, part of Central Cusd 301, serving approximately 777 students in grades 6th-7th with a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #989 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Prairie Knolls Middle Sch

What grades does Prairie Knolls Middle Sch serve?

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch serves students in grades 6th through 7th.

How many students attend Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch has an enrollment of approximately 777 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Prairie Knolls Middle Sch rank in IL?

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch ranks #989 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Prairie Knolls Middle Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Prairie Knolls Middle Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Prairie Knolls Middle Sch has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Prairie Knolls Middle Sch a charter school?

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

Is Prairie Knolls Middle Sch a Title I school?

No, Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?

17.1% of students at Prairie Knolls 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
6th – 7th
Enrollment
777
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Kane County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.2%
Area population (ZIP 60124)
24,400
Area average commute
31.2 min
Area median age
42.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 60124; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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