Is Northwestern High School a good school?

Northwestern High School ranks 343 rd of 697 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northwestern High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 84 students attended Northwestern High School.

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern High School?

Students at Northwestern High School are 99% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Northwestern High School?

Northwestern High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Northwestern Elementary School Middle : Northwestern Junior High School

Northwestern High School

Summary:

Northwestern High School is a small public high school in Palmyra, Illinois, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of just 89 students. The school is part of the Northwestern CUSD 2 district, which is ranked 656 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Northwestern High School has seen fluctuations in its graduation rate, ranging from 78.6% to 86.4% in recent years, this is lower than the state average and nearby schools like Greenfield High School (92.5%) and Franklin Junior/Senior High School (100%). The school also has a relatively high dropout rate, ranging from 2.7% to 9.5%, significantly higher than nearby schools. Additionally, Northwestern High School has a concerning chronic absenteeism rate, reaching as high as 29.3% in the 2021-2022 school year, much higher than the state average and nearby schools.

Academically, Northwestern High School's test scores, particularly in mathematics, are significantly lower than the state averages and nearby schools. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 13.3% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 26.1%. The school also has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 62.92% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, much higher than nearby schools like Greenfield High School (35.29%) and Franklin Junior/Senior High School (26.75%). These factors suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes at Northwestern High School.

Detail:

Public 9-12

30889 Route 111
Palmyra, IL 62674-6303

(217) 436-2011

District: Northwestern CUSD 2

SchoolDigger Rank:
343^rd of 697 Illinois High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,655

Feeder schools for Northwestern High School:

Elementary:	Northwestern Elementary School
Middle:	Northwestern Junior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 6.4

Number of students: 84

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.8%

Two or more races:

1.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.1%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Northwestern High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Northwestern High School ranks better than 50.8% of high schools in Illinois. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.92. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Northwestern High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (98.8%), two or more races (1.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northwestern High School is 6.4. (See more...)

Compare Northwestern High School employs 13 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northwestern High School is $21,655.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Northwestern High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northwestern High School 343^rd of 697 Illinois public high schools. (See Northwestern High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Male students:

White students:

Northwestern CUSD 2:

SchoolDigger ranks Northwestern CUSD 2 656^th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Northwestern High School

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Rank History for all students at Northwestern High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	70.76	155^th	586	73.5%
2004	52.29	327^th	592	44.8%
2005	37.37	445^th	590	24.6%
2006	54.88	313^th	596	47.5%
2007	56.86	294^th	612	52.0%
2008	27.10	497^th	624	20.4%
2009	75.16	154^th	632	75.6%
2010	79.95	106^th	643	83.5%
2011	40.08	444^th	655	32.2%
2012	56.34	330^th	665	50.4%
2013	70.66	201^st	670	70.0%
2014	50.27	365^th	670	45.5%
2015	61.76	199^th	614	67.6%
2016	52.74	254^th	643	60.5%
2017	29.33	477^th	642	25.7%
2018	31.39	463^rd	647	28.4%
2019	27.67	517^th	701	26.2%
2021	8.35	667^th	688	3.1%
2022	23.94	535^th	699	23.5%
2023	49.78	335^th	699	52.1%
2024	45.92	343^rd	697	50.8%

See the entire list of Illinois High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Northwestern High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	64.93	68^th	374	81.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northwestern High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	8.20	578^th	585	1.2%
2019	46.09	329^th	639	48.5%
2021	12.21	580^th	611	5.1%
2022	43.92	341^st	626	45.5%
2023	56.27	234^th	644	63.7%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Northwestern High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	42.32	363^rd	620	41.5%
2021	8.44	616^th	639	3.6%
2023	53.78	285^th	656	56.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Northwestern High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	10.98	561^st	619	9.4%
2019	27.67	493^rd	675	27.0%
2021	8.58	626^th	653	4.1%
2022	23.22	515^th	664	22.4%
2023	42.05	381^st	668	43.0%
2024	34.31	414^th	668	38.0%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Northwestern High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	16.97	487^th	548	11.1%
2019	13.55	517^th	552	6.3%
2021	3.72	550^th	553	0.5%
2022	10.30	536^th	560	4.3%
2023	38.49	327^th	557	41.3%
2024	28.85	383^rd	554	30.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for Northwestern High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	146	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	146
1990	133	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	133
1991	122	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	122
1992	131	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	131
1993	130	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	130
1994	131	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	132
1995	137	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	139
1996	137	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	139
1997	150	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	151
1998	147	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	148
1999	150	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	150
2000	161	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	163
2001	146	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	148
2002	130	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	130
2003	130	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	130
2004	112	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	112
2005	106	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1	108
2006	112	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	113
2007	112	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	114
2008	111	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	112
2009	113	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	114
2010	107	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	1	109
2011	104	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	105
2012	102	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	104
2013	90	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	92
2014	81	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	83
2015	97	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	99
2016	111	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	112
2017	113	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	114
2018	111	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	112
2019	94	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	95
2020	95	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	97
2021	94	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	95
2022	94	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	94
2023	88	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	89
2024	83	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	84

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Northwestern High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	146	11.0	13.2	n/a
1990	133	11.0	12.0	n/a
1991	122	11.0	11.0	n/a
1992	131	10.0	13.1	n/a
1993	130	10.0	13.0	n/a
1994	132	12.0	11.0	n/a
1995	139	13.0	10.7	n/a
1996	139	13.0	10.7	n/a
1997	151	14.0	10.8	n/a
1998	148	14.0	10.6	n/a
1999	150	13.0	11.5	n/a
2000	163	13.5	12.1	n/a
2001	148	13.6	10.9	n/a
2002	130	14.5	9.0	21.5
2003	130	14.5	9.0	21.5
2004	112	13.7	8.2	25.9
2005	108	14.5	7.4	24.3
2006	113	14.5	7.8	38.1
2007	114	15.0	7.6	40.4
2008	112	11.0	10.2	50
2009	114	11.4	10.0	51.8
2010	109	11.7	9.3	45.4
2011	105	12.0	8.7	46.7
2012	104	12.0	8.6	40.4
2013	92	12.8	7.1	44.6
2014	83	n/a	n/a	51.8
2015	99	12.0	8.2	53.5
2016	112	12.0	9.3	53.6
2017	114	12.2	9.3	58.8
2018	112	12.1	9.1	58
2019	95	11.8	8.0	57.9
2020	97	12.4	7.7	58.8
2021	95	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	94	13.5	6.9	64.9
2023	89	14.0	6.3	62.9
2024	84	13.0	6.4	57.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Northwestern High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	146	11.0	13.2	n/a
1990	133	11.0	12.0	n/a
1991	122	11.0	11.0	n/a
1992	131	10.0	13.1	n/a
1993	130	10.0	13.0	n/a
1994	132	12.0	11.0	n/a
1995	139	13.0	10.7	n/a
1996	139	13.0	10.7	n/a
1997	151	14.0	10.8	n/a
1998	148	14.0	10.6	n/a
1999	150	13.0	11.5	n/a
2000	163	13.5	12.1	n/a
2001	148	13.6	10.9	n/a
2002	130	14.5	9.0	21.5
2003	130	14.5	9.0	21.5
2004	112	13.7	8.2	25.9
2005	108	14.5	7.4	24.3
2006	113	14.5	7.8	38.1
2007	114	15.0	7.6	40.4
2008	112	11.0	10.2	50
2009	114	11.4	10.0	51.8
2010	109	11.7	9.3	45.4
2011	105	12.0	8.7	46.7
2012	104	12.0	8.6	40.4
2013	92	12.8	7.1	44.6
2014	83	n/a	n/a	51.8
2015	99	12.0	8.2	53.5
2016	112	12.0	9.3	53.6
2017	114	12.2	9.3	58.8
2018	112	12.1	9.1	58
2019	95	11.8	8.0	57.9
2020	97	12.4	7.7	58.8
2021	95	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	94	13.5	6.9	64.9
2023	89	14.0	6.3	62.9
2024	84	13.0	6.4	57.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

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