C
Payson Community Unit School District 1
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 7 towns
Serves Melrose Township, Payson Township, Payson, Burton Township, Richfield Township, Plainville and Fall Creek Township.
Students
449
Schools
2
Spent per student
$14,712
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
11:1
Free or reduced lunch
50%
Debt
$1.2M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Payson Community Unit School District 1
- School Grade C: better than 25% of Illinois districts
- Math proficiency 10 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 13 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 8 pts above the state
- Spends 32% less per student than the IL average
- 11 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 12.5% since 2020
- Debt of $1.2M, about $2,664 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Hamlet.
K–52 elementary schoolsMercer County School District 404
6–8Mercer County Jr High SchoolMercer County School District 404
9–12Mercer County High SchoolMercer County School District 404
Test scores vs. IL
2020–21Math proficiency16%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts18%
State average 30.7%
Graduation rate (4-year)95%
State average 87.3% · small group: the state reports 90–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$14,712 per student · 32% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 52%Support & administration 43%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 40%State 49%Federal 11%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
513’20
487’21
493’22
479’23
449’24
Down 12.5% since 2020.
Students
White 92%Two or more races 5%Hispanic 2%Black <1%
Schools in the district
2 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Liberty Community Unit School District 2Beverly Township, Gilmer Township, Liberty Township
$14,183per student
Quincy School District 172Ellington Township, Quincy, Quincy Township
$13,876per student
Western Community Unit School District 12Barry Township, Hadley Township, Kinderhook Township
$16,195per student
Central CUSD 3Gilmer Township
$15,858per 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.