B+

Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 19 towns

Serves Indian Grove Township, Fairbury, Chenoa Township, Chenoa, Chatsworth Township, Forrest Township, Chatsworth, Forrest, Pike Township, Avoca Township, Pleasant Ridge Township, Fayette Township, Cropsey Township, Eppards Point Township, Yates Township, Strawn, Charlotte Township, Germanville Township and Belle Prairie Township, and parts of Brenton Township and Anchor Township.

Students

1,712

Schools

Spent per student

$16,593

IL $21,567

Students per teacher

12:1

Free or reduced lunch

46%

Debt

$2.2M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8

School Grade B+: better than 68% of Illinois districts
Math proficiency 6 pts above the state
Spends 23% less per student than the IL average
12 students per teacher
Debt of $2.2M, about $1,272 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Hettick.

PK–6Northwestern Elem SchoolNorthwestern Community Unit School District 2

7–8Northwestern Jr High SchoolNorthwestern Community Unit School District 2

9–12Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern Community Unit School District 2

Test scores vs. IL

2020–21

Math proficiency32%

State average 25.8%

Reading / language arts32%

State average 30.7%

Graduation rate (4-year)92%

State average 87.3%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$16,593 per student · 23% below IL

Spending

Classroom instruction 66%Support & administration 30%Other 4%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 52%State 41%Federal 8%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

1,728’20

1,763’21

1,725’22

1,722’23

1,712’24

About steady.

Students

White 84%Hispanic 10%Two or more races 4%Black <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

6 public schools.

Prairie Central Elem School

Elementary · Grades 2–4 · Fairbury

B+

367 students12:1

Prairie Central Primary West

Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Chenoa

244 students15:1

Prairie Central Primary East

Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Chatsworth

D−

148 students11:1

Prairie Central Jr High School

Middle · Grades 7–8 · Forrest

B+

250 students12:1

Prairie Central Upper Elementary

Middle · Grades 5–6 · Forrest

A−

216 students12:1

Prairie Central High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Fairbury

B−

487 students12:1

Towns served

Indian Grove Township 4,119Fairbury 3,713Chenoa Township 1,996Chenoa 1,647Chatsworth Township 1,383Forrest Township 1,251Chatsworth 1,172Forrest 994Pike Township 596Avoca Township 414Pleasant Ridge Township 320Fayette Township 152Cropsey Township 124Eppards Point Township 112Yates Township 103Strawn 94 Charlotte Township 91 Germanville Township 72 Belle Prairie Township 57

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Pontiac Township High School District 90Owego Township, Pontiac Township, Rooks Creek Township

$21,527per student

Ridgeview Community Unit School District 19Cheney's Grove Township, Lawndale Township, Martin Township

$17,634per student

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District 5Peach Orchard Township, Sullivant Township

$18,376per student

Saunemin Community Consolidated School District 438Owego Township, Saunemin Township

$24,433per 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.