B+
Heritage Community Unit School District 8
Public school districtGrades K–12Regional · 9 towns
Serves South Homer, Homer, Vance, Sidell, Ayers, Broadlands, Raymond, Allerton and Longview, and parts of Sidney, Newman and Murdock.
Students
391
Schools
2
Spent per student
$19,726
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
11:1
Free or reduced lunch
45%
Debt
$4.6M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Heritage Community Unit School District 8
- School Grade B+: better than 66% of Illinois districts
- Reading / language arts 11 pts above the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 8 pts above the state
- Spends 9% less per student than the IL average
- 11 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 5.7% since 2020
- Debt of $4.6M, about $11,739 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Sidney.
PK–52 elementary schoolsTolono Community Unit School District 7
6–8Unity Jr High SchoolTolono Community Unit School District 7
9–12Unity High SchoolTolono Community Unit School District 7
Test scores vs. IL
2020–21Math proficiency22%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts42%
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$19,726 per student · 9% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 56%Support & administration 40%Other 3%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 65%State 27%Federal 7%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
370’20
388’21
400’22
380’23
391’24
Up 5.7% since 2020.
Students
White 87%Two or more races 7%Hispanic 5%Black <1%
Schools in the district
2 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Salt Fork Community Unit School District 512Carroll, Catlin, Jamaica
$14,725per student
Shiloh Community Unit School District 1Sargent, Young America
$20,887per student
St. Joseph-Ogden Community High School District 305Oakwood, Ogden, St. Joseph
$14,500per student
Oakland Community Unit School District 5Bowdre, Sargent
$17,194per 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.