Best Public Schools in Jacksonville, IL

The city of Jacksonville, Illinois is home to 7 schools, including 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school, all part of the Jacksonville School District 117. The schools in this area display a wide range of academic performance, with Eisenhower Elementary School standing out as the top performer, while other schools like Lincoln Elementary and Washington Elementary struggle academically.

Eisenhower Elementary is the academic standout, with 61.1% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 55.2% proficient or better in Mathematics, placing it in the top 25% of Illinois elementary schools. In contrast, Lincoln Elementary and Washington Elementary have proficiency rates well below the state averages. The district as a whole is ranked 514 out of 811 districts in Illinois and rated 2 out of 5 stars, suggesting broader systemic challenges that need to be addressed.

While Jacksonville High School does not have the highest academic performance, it stands out for its relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 89.0% and low dropout rate of 2.4%. The school also spends the most per student at $16,726. However, the district-wide issue of high chronic absenteeism rates, averaging 25.4%, is a concern that may be impacting student learning and achievement across all schools.