B
Southwestern Community Unit School District 9
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 12 towns
Serves Brighton, Piasa, Brighton, Shipman, Chesterfield, Fidelity, Shipman, Hillyard, Medora, Royal Lakes, Ruyle and Fidelity, and parts of Bunker Hill and Polk.
Students
1,149
Schools
5
Spent per student
$16,659
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
43%
Debt
$11.5M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Southwestern Community Unit School District 9
- School Grade B: better than 60% of Illinois districts
- Spends 23% less per student than the IL average
- 13 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 10.6% since 2020
- Debt of $11.5M, about $9,973 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
2020–21Math proficiency22%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts31%
State average 30.7%
Graduation rate (4-year)92%
State average 87.3%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$16,659 per student · 23% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 59%Support & administration 35%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 39%State 54%Federal 8%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
1,285’20
1,235’21
1,210’22
1,162’23
1,149’24
Down 10.6% since 2020.
Students
White 94%Two or more races 2%Hispanic 2%Black 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
5 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Carlinville Community Unit School District 1Bird, Brushy Mound, Western Mound
$15,212per student
Alton Community Unit School District 11Foster, Godfrey
$18,464per student
Gillespie Community Unit School District 7Dorchester, Gillespie
$15,374per student
Greenfield Community Unit School District 10Rockbridge, Western Mound
$18,223per 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.