A−
Chester-East Lincoln Community CSD 61
Public school districtGrades PK–8Regional · 4 towns
Serves East Lincoln, Aetna, Chester and Oran, and parts of Lincoln, Atlanta, Tunbridge, Barnett and Eminence.
Students
288
Schools
1
Spent per student
$12,308
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
44%
Debt
$1.5M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Chester-East Lincoln Community CSD 61
- School Grade A−: better than 78% of Illinois districts
- Math proficiency 6 pts above the state
- Reading / language arts 11 pts above the state
- Spends 43% less per student than the IL average
- 12 students per teacher
- Debt of $1.5M, about $5,292 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Bentley.
PK–4Carthage Primary SchoolCarthage Elementary School District 317
5–8Carthage Middle SchoolCarthage Elementary School District 317
9–12Illini West High SchoolIllini West High School District 307
Test scores vs. IL
2020–21Math proficiency32%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts42%
State average 30.7%
Graduation rate 82% at Illini West High School District 307, which runs the high school (state 87.3%) · class of 2018.
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$12,308 per student · 43% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 33%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 60%State 26%Federal 13%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
298’20
285’21
279’22
299’23
288’24
Down 3.4% since 2020.
Students
White 92%Hispanic 3%Two or more races 3%Black 1%Asian <1%
Schools in the district
1 public school.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Clinton Community Unit School District 15Clintonia, Texas, Wapella
$17,236per student
Olympia Community Unit School District 16Hittle, Mount Hope, Waynesville
$16,450per student
Lincoln Community High School District 404Broadwell, West Lincoln
$19,062per student
West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School District 92Broadwell, West Lincoln
$17,281per 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.