B
Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 3 towns
Serves Gardner, Cartwright and Pleasant Plains.
Students
1,294
Schools
3
Spent per student
$14,708
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
14:1
Free or reduced lunch
7%
Debt
$19.5M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8
- School Grade B: better than 64% of Illinois districts
- Spends 32% less per student than the IL average
- 14 students per teacher
- Debt of $19.5M, about $15,050 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 proficiency29%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts29%
State average 30.7%
Graduation rate (4-year)92%
State average 87.3%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$14,708 per student · 32% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 61%Support & administration 35%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 69%State 26%Federal 5%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
1,255’20
1,260’21
1,250’22
1,284’23
1,294’24
Up 3.1% since 2020.
Students
White 92%Two or more races 3%Hispanic 2%Black 2%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
3 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
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.