Best Public Schools in Lincoln, IL

Lincoln, Illinois, has seven schools serving 2,268 students: five listed as elementary schools, one junior high and one high school, with two elementary schools extending through grade 8. In 2025–2026, the five elementary schools averaged 61% proficient in English language arts (ELA) and 45% in math, 5 and 6 percentage points above state results. But those averages conceal wide differences between schools—the clearest takeaway for families comparing elementary options.

Chester-East Lincoln Elementary School led elementary ELA at 76%, 19 points above the state, while Central Elementary School led math at 60%, 21 points above the state. West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School was strong in both subjects, with 74% in ELA and 51% in math. At the other end, Washington-Monroe Elementary School had 39% in ELA and 28% in math, below state results in both. Lincoln Junior High School showed a split: ELA was 9 points above state, while math was 8 points below. Lincoln Community High School was below state in all three grade-11 ACT subjects, by 3 points in ELA and 14 points each in math and science; its 91% graduation rate was 2 points above state.

Elementary trends were mixed: average ELA rose by 1 point from the prior year, but the state result rose by 3, narrowing the local advantage to 5 points. Average math fell by 3 points as the state rose by 1, leaving a 6-point local advantage. Individual changes varied: Chester-East Lincoln math rose 5 points, while Northwest Elementary School math fell 13. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking percentile for West Lincoln-Broadwell rose from 53 to 70 between 2023–2024 and 2025–2026; Washington-Monroe fell from 60 to 27. As context, free/reduced lunch eligible shares in school year 2024–2025 ranged from 23% at West Lincoln-Broadwell to 75% at Northwest; these figures describe school communities, not causes of results.