Elementary Schools in Highland CUSD 5

The Highland CUSD 5 school district in Illinois is home to 4 elementary schools serving students from preschool through 6th grade. While the schools share a common district, they exhibit varying levels of academic performance, with Grantfork Upper Elementary School standing out as an exceptional institution within the region.

Grantfork Upper Elementary consistently ranks among the top 5% of Illinois elementary schools, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2024-2025 school year, Grantfork boasted the highest proficiency rates in the district across English Language Arts (89.1%), Math (84.4%), and Science (79.2%), significantly exceeding both district and state averages. The school's low student-teacher ratio of 10.2 and high per-student spending of $13,252 likely contribute to its strong academic performance.

In contrast, Highland Elementary School had the lowest proficiency rates in the district, with only 37.7% of students proficient in ELA and 33.8% in Math during the 2023-2024 school year. While all 4 schools in the Highland CUSD 5 district shared the same high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4%, the significant gap in academic achievement between the top and bottom performing schools suggests the need for further investigation and resource allocation to ensure more equitable outcomes for all students.