Best Public Schools in Champaign, IL

Summary:

The city of Champaign, Illinois is home to 16 schools in the Champaign CUSD 4 district, including 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. While the district's overall academic performance lags behind state averages, a few standout schools shine, including South Side Elementary School, Bottenfield Elementary School, and Kenwood Elementary School.

South Side Elementary stands out as the top-performing school in the district, with the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts (47.5%), Mathematics (41.1%), and Science (68.1%) across all grades. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 19.1%. Bottenfield Elementary and Kenwood Elementary also demonstrate strong academic performance, with proficiency rates above the district and state averages in core subjects.

In contrast, the middle schools in the district, particularly Jefferson Middle School, have lower proficiency rates compared to the elementary and high schools. Additionally, there are significant disparities in academic achievement and student demographics across the schools, with schools serving higher percentages of students from low-income families tending to have lower proficiency rates and higher chronic absenteeism.

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School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISA Science (2024)	IAR English Language Arts (2024)							IAR Mathematics (2024)							SAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT English Language Arts (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Pneumococcal (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science All Grades	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
R E A D Y Program	Public	6-12	45 E University Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign/Ford ROE	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(217) 239-0322	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
RE-Start Program	Public	9-12	45 E University Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign/Ford ROE	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(217) 893-3219	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Educ for Employment Sys 330	Public	9-12	2400 W Bradley Ave # A113	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign/Ford ROE	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(217) 355-1382	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Bottenfield Elementary School	Public	K-5	1801 S Prospect Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3807	453	29	15.6	42.4%	204 (45.0%)	145 (32.0%)	20 (4.4%)	43 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (9.1%)	55.5	810^th of 2067 public elementary schools	60.8%		53.6	867^th of 2077 public elementary schools	58.3%	57	53.7	33.3	35.2	32.9				33.9	31.9	31.8	34.3				32.6			96.6	96.4	96.4	96.4	100.0	96.2	96.6			$15,745	$1,808	$13,937
Centennial High School	Public	9-12	913 Crescent Dr	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3954	1,444	105	13.8	51.5%	422 (29.2%)	587 (40.7%)	163 (11.3%)	143 (9.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	128 (8.9%)	50.8	303^rd of 697 public high schools	56.5%		58.3	252^nd of 699 public high schools	63.9%	51	51.9															20.5	23.7	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1		96.2	$18,014	$1,797	$16,217
Central High School	Public	9-12	610 W University Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3914	1,597	109	14.7	45.5%	616 (38.6%)	438 (27.4%)	285 (17.8%)	136 (8.5%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	115 (7.2%)	72.8	149^th of 697 public high schools	78.6%		78.6	124^th of 699 public high schools	82.3%	25	51.1															30.6	33.0	95.5	96.3	96.3	96.3	95.5	95.4	95.4		96.3	$17,216	$1,856	$15,360
Dr Howard Elementary School	Public	K-5	110 N. James	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3866	395	30	13.1	59.5%	96 (24.3%)	169 (42.8%)	40 (10.1%)	50 (12.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.9%)	36.8	1223^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	40.8%		42.4	1126^th of 2077 public elementary schools	45.8%	97	53.2	19.4	12.0	36.1				23.0	29.9	0.0	34.4				22.9			96.8	96.8	96.8	96.8	96.8	96.8	96.8			$18,187	$1,844	$16,343
Garden Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2001 Garden Hills Dr	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3872	312	20	16.0	82.4%	22 (7.1%)	179 (57.4%)	82 (26.3%)	13 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.1%)	14.1	1883^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	8.9%		11.3	1991^st of 2077 public elementary schools	4.1%	108	16.9	8.7	8.9	14.8	6.3			10.3	13.0	2.3	5.0	3.1			6.0			98.4	98.9	98.9	98.9	99.5	98.4	98.1	5.5	7.4	$17,626	$2,647	$14,979
Edison Middle School	Public	6-8	306 W Green St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3771	699	49	14.2	43.8%	308 (44.1%)	202 (28.9%)	83 (11.9%)	50 (7.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (7.9%)	44.8	675^th of 1363 public middle schools	50.5%		49.3	603^rd of 1367 public middle schools	55.9%	72	49.5				33.8	37.1	38.0	36.4				19.1	30.5	21.3	23.8			97.5	98.3	98.3	98.3	97.8	98.1	98.5		95.5	$18,295	$2,681	$15,614
Jefferson Middle School	Public	6-8	1115 Crescent Dr	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3790	738	54	13.6	59.6%	212 (28.7%)	334 (45.3%)	78 (10.6%)	37 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (10.4%)	31.2	881^st of 1363 public middle schools	35.4%		31.6	894^th of 1367 public middle schools	34.6%	13	39.5				27.3	14.5	36.5	26.1				18.5	17.7	16.9	17.7			97.4	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.3	97.6	97.4		96.5	$17,144	$2,315	$14,830
Kenwood Elementary School	Public	K-5	1001 Stratford Dr	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3815	344	26	13.4	45.9%	144 (41.9%)	116 (33.7%)	13 (3.8%)	33 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (11.0%)	54	841^st of 2067 public elementary schools	59.3%		65.7	629^th of 2077 public elementary schools	69.7%	212	53.6	31.1	40.8	43.9				39.1	13.4	30.6	33.4				26.5			98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4			$19,497	$4,782	$14,715
Robeson Elementary School	Public	K-5	2501 Southmoor Dr	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3884	458	29	15.7	51.1%	170 (37.1%)	156 (34.1%)	45 (9.8%)	32 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (11.8%)	46.6	1009^th of 2067 public elementary schools	51.2%		56.9	801^st of 2077 public elementary schools	61.4%	208	43.9	24.3	42.8	25.6				30.2	22.9	36.5	19.5				25.6			98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6			$16,715	$2,158	$14,557
Washington Elementary School	Public	K-5	606 E Grove St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3901	367	31	12.0	64.9%	48 (13.1%)	246 (67.0%)	35 (9.5%)	18 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.4%)	13.5	1918^th of 2067 public elementary schools	7.2%		12.1	1965^th of 2077 public elementary schools	5.4%	47		11.1	6.8	7.3				8.5	9.7	5.1	1.8				5.7			96.0	96.0	96.0	96.0	97.1	96.0	95.7			$19,178	$3,642	$15,536
Westview Elementary School	Public	K-5	703 S Russell St	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3905	438	28	15.6	52.7%	143 (32.6%)	161 (36.8%)	59 (13.5%)	36 (8.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (8.2%)	30.4	1385^th of 2067 public elementary schools	33.0%		37.4	1225^th of 2077 public elementary schools	41.0%	160	29.9	16.4	35.8	15.6				22.4	18.0	19.4	10.4				15.6			98.3	98.6	98.6	98.6	99.0	98.3	98.3			$16,158	$2,373	$13,785
Stratton Elementary School	Public	K-5	902 N Randolph St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 373-7330	476	41	11.7	74.6%	58 (12.2%)	326 (68.5%)	50 (10.5%)	19 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.8%)	22.5	1609^th of 2067 public elementary schools	22.2%		22	1608^th of 2077 public elementary schools	22.6%	1	21.6	13.6	8.0	16.9				12.8	22.0	5.3	16.9				14.2			97.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	100.0	97.9	97.4			$17,776	$3,116	$14,660
Vernon L Barkstall Elementary School	Public	K-5	2201 Hallbeck Dr	Champaign	61822	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 373-5580	384	31	12.3	43.5%	122 (31.8%)	121 (31.5%)	24 (6.3%)	78 (20.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (9.6%)	59.7	740^th of 2067 public elementary schools	64.2%		61.2	727^th of 2077 public elementary schools	65.0%	13	56.3	27.1	42.7	39.0				36.1	33.3	37.6	34.4				35.1			98.5	99.0	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5			$17,178	$2,004	$15,174
Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	817 N Harris Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3819	677	53	12.6	57.0%	144 (21.3%)	311 (45.9%)	94 (13.9%)	73 (10.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	53 (7.8%)	41.7	719^th of 1363 public middle schools	47.2%		36.3	829^th of 1367 public middle schools	39.4%	110	40.9				39.4	22.8	36.9	32.8				25.8	17.3	26.2	23.0			95.1	95.1	95.1	95.1	95.0	95.1	95.1		93.1	$18,067	$2,532	$15,535
South Side Elementary School	Public	K-5	715 S New St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3890	289	20	14.4	41.9%	153 (52.9%)	77 (26.6%)	12 (4.2%)	15 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (11.1%)	69.7	556^th of 2067 public elementary schools	73.1%		55.1	841^st of 2077 public elementary schools	59.5%	285	68.1	61.2	28.8	51.1				47.5	59.2	20.0	42.5				41.1			97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6			$16,647	$1,700	$14,946
Novak Academy	Public	9-12	815 N Randolph St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(217) 352-4328	0	5	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
International Prep Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	1605 W Kirby Ave	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(217) 351-3995	568	49	11.7	57.2%	93 (16.4%)	66 (11.6%)	375 (66.0%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.5%)	37.5	1212^th of 2067 public elementary schools	41.4%		44.2	1082^nd of 2077 public elementary schools	47.9%	130	43.1	21.0	24.7	27.0	33.8	35.5	52.1	30.8	35.5	13.8	19.1	17.7	26.6	35.5	24.4			98.0	98.0	98.0	98.0	98.0	98.0	98.0		24.6	$16,356	$1,784	$14,572
ACTIONS Program	Public, Alternative	K-12	402 N Randolph St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(217) 351-3701	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Cities Near Champaign

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Urbana	1.18 mi	13	706^th
Savoy	3.6 mi	1	87^th
Philo	7.55 mi	1	118^th
Tolono	8 mi	3	224^th
Mahomet	8.46 mi	4	98^th

See the top IL Illinois cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.