Best Public Schools in El Paso, IL

The city of El Paso, Illinois is home to three schools: two elementary schools (Jefferson Park School and Centennial School) and one high school (El Paso-Gridley High School). These schools serve a diverse student population within the El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11 district.

Among the three schools, El Paso-Gridley High School stands out as the academic standout, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Illinois and earning 4-5 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger. The school's students excel on a variety of assessments, including the ACT, PreACT, and SAT, significantly outperforming state averages. In contrast, the two elementary schools, Jefferson Park School and Centennial School, have more average performance, with 3 out of 5 star ratings from SchoolDigger and more modest academic outcomes on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exams.

Across the district, the schools serve a diverse student population, with a significant proportion of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 38.24% to 42.53%. Additionally, all three schools face a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4%. The per-student spending also varies, with El Paso-Gridley High School spending the most at $12,374 per student, followed by Jefferson Park School at $12,031 and Centennial School at $11,248. Understanding the factors behind these differences and their impact on educational outcomes could provide valuable insights for the district.