Prairie Central Upper Elementary

Prairie Central CUSD 8
PO Box 496
Forrest, IL 61741
237 Students
Middle School 5th - 6th
School Overview
Prairie Central Upper Elementary, located in Forrest, Illinois, serves as a key educational facility within the Prairie Central Community Unit School District #8. The school is dedicated to bridging the academic transition for students in the middle elementary grades—typically serving students in grades 3 through 5—by providing a structured environment that focuses on foundational learning and social-emotional development.

As part of a rural district, the school emphasizes a community-centered approach to education, fostering close relationships between staff, students, and local families. The curriculum is designed to balance rigorous core academics, such as reading, mathematics, and science, with opportunities for personal growth, aiming to prepare students for the academic expectations of the district’s middle and high school levels. Through its commitment to a supportive learning climate, Prairie Central Upper Elementary strives to instill a sense of pride and academic curiosity in its student body.
237
Total Students
21.1
Full-Time Teachers
11.2
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • White
    206 (86.9 %)
  • Hispanic
    19 (8.0 %)
  • Two or More
    9 (3.8 %)
  • Asian
    2 (0.8 %)
  • American Indian
    1 (0.4 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Middle School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: Prairie Central CUSD 8
Phone: (815)657-8238
Website: http://www.prairiecentral.org
Grade Range: 5th - 6th
Total Students: 237
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 21.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 11.2
NSLP Participation:1 Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch: 0
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

1 National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught
Grade 5 127
Grade 6 110
Gender Ratio
Nearby Middle Schools (Within 10 Miles)
Prairie Central Jr High School
Prairie Central CUSD 8
228 Students
800 N Wood St
Forrest, IL 61741 (0.4 miles away)
Middle School 7th - 8th