Nov 6, 2014![school-supplies-800x800]()
With the Illinois 2014 statewide elections behind us, Illinoisans now can focus on getting to the hard work of making the state better. A better future for Illinois starts with a good education for Illinois students. We can’t know where we need to go without knowing where we already are.
The Illinois State Board of Education released its annual Report Card with ratings and summaries of stats about schools across Illinois for the 2013-2014 school year.
We looked at the 25 biggest school districts in the state (across all grade levels) and then picked out the school within each district that is doing the best, or, in other words, had the highest percentage of students who meet or exceed expectations. The list is ranked by school district enrollment size for the 2013-2014 academic year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Per-pupil spending includes operational and instructional spending. Note the wide range in per pupil spending in this list. Interesting range of average class sizes, too.
1. Chicago Public Schools
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Northside College Prep HS |
99.8% |
23 |
$22,415 |
2. SD U-46
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Centennial School |
77.5% |
26 |
$16,083 |
3. Rockford SD 205
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Thurgood Marshall School |
98.8% |
15 |
$17,686 |
4. Indian Prairie CUSD 204
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Fry Elementary School |
90.9% |
27 |
$17,469 |
5. Plainfield SD 202
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Heritage Grove Middle School |
80.8% |
26 |
$14,572 |
6. CUSD 300
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Hampshire Elementary School |
76.1% |
23 |
$15,439 |
7. Valley View CUSD 365 U
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Pioneer Elementary School |
71.4% |
24 |
$19,634 |
8. Oswego CUSD 308
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Old Post Elementary School |
86.2% |
22 |
$13,642 |
9. Naperville CUSD 203
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Meadow Glens Elementary School |
92.2% |
22 |
$21,966 |
10. Waukegan CUSD 60
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Little Fort Elementary School |
58.5% |
22 |
$19,050 |
11. Springfield SD 186
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Iles Elementary School |
58.5% |
25 |
$19,978 |
12. Aurora East USD 131
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy |
87.5% |
23 |
$16,334 |
13. Schaumburg CCSD 54
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Fairview Elementary School |
89.5% |
23 |
$21,926 |
14. Peoria SD 150
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Washington Gifted School |
98.9% |
21 |
$19,494 |
15. McLean County USD 5
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Grove Elementary School |
88.7% |
25 |
$15,952 |
16. St Charles CUSD 303
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Bell-Graham Elementary School |
86.8% |
24 |
$18,960 |
17. CUSD 200
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Longfellow Elementary School |
86.8% |
24 |
$19,606 |
18. Cicero SD 99
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Abe Lincoln Elementary School |
43.8% |
22 |
$15,010 |
19. Aurora West USD 129
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Fearn Elementary School |
67.6% |
27 |
$18,334 |
20. Palatine CCSD 15
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Pleasant Hill Elementary School |
88.7% |
23 |
$19,363 |
21. Township HSD 211
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Wm. Fremd High School |
82.3% |
23 |
$27,122 |
22. Township HSD 214
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Prospect High School |
82.9% |
23 |
$30,889 |
23. Joliet PSD 86
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Eisenhower Academy |
94.1% |
24 |
$15,350 |
24. Champaign CUSD 4
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Vernon L Barkstall Elementary School |
69.7% |
19 |
$19,905 |
25. Cons SD 158
| School |
Meets/exceeds expectations |
Average class size |
Per pupil spending |
| Conley Elementary School |
81.6% |
21 |
$13,416 |
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Want to tell your elected officials what you think of the state of schools in Illinois? Use our Sound Off tool.
Caitlin Wilson is a staff writer for Reboot Illinois. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago, where she studied journalism and political science. Caitlin has become both endeared to and frustrated with her adopted home state and wants to bring Illinoisans the information they need to actively participate in the politics that directly affect them. You can find Reboot on Facebook here and on Twitter at @rebootillinois.
