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Thomas Metcalf School

Q: Is Thomas Metcalf School a good school?

Thomas Metcalf School ranks 327 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

327^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Thomas Metcalf School in Normal, IL, is a unique K-8 laboratory school on the Illinois State University campus, serving 459 students as part of the top-rated ISU Laboratory Schools district, which ranks in the 92nd percentile statewide.

What truly sets Thomas Metcalf apart from nearby schools is its extraordinary combination of resources and outcomes. The school boasts a remarkably low student-teacher ratio of 8.6:1, far smaller than any neighboring school—for comparison, Sugar Creek Elementary School has a ratio of 18.5:1. Academically, Thomas Metcalf students achieve at exceptionally high levels, with 72.4% proficient in English Language Arts and 65.2% in Math—roughly double the state average. The only nearby school that comes close is Prairieland Elementary School, which achieves strong scores (64.6% ELA, 57.3% Math) despite serving a more diverse student body. Thomas Metcalf also has a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 10.9%, less than half the state average and significantly lower than schools like Oakdale Elementary School (27.1%) or Sheridan Elementary School.

While Thomas Metcalf's overall performance is exceptional, its statewide rank has slipped slightly from the 96th percentile in 2020-2021 to the 84th percentile in 2024-2025. A standout strength is middle school math: 86.3% of 7th graders and 85.4% of 8th graders are proficient, compared to roughly 35% statewide. This suggests the K-8 structure provides a strong foundation for advanced math. However, the school's success is heavily influenced by its unique demographic profile—only 6.97% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, compared to over 50% on average at nearby schools—so families should consider how this environment aligns with their child's needs.

459

Students ?

8.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

Free/discounted lunch ?

ISU Campus Box 7000
Normal, IL 61790-0001

(309) 438-7621

District: ISU Laboratory Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.6%

Hispanic:

10.2%

Asian:

8.7%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Thomas Metcalf School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2018 → 84th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (75% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Illinois elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2018

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school75%

District avg75%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

327^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▼ down 10 pts since 2018

From top 6% (2018) to top 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

159^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 10 pts since 2018

From top 2% (2018) to top 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

68^th of 811ISU Laboratory Schools among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	83.0	327 of 2056	84.1%	★★★★☆
2024	86.0	251 of 2067	87.9%	★★★★☆
2023	88.9	201 of 2077	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	91.1	152 of 2082	92.7%	★★★★★
2021	94.8	83 of 1948	95.7%	★★★★★
2019	90.9	142 of 2086	93.2%	★★★★★
2018	92.5	118 of 2037	94.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	82.9	298 of 1942	84.7%	★★★★☆
2024	86.5	213 of 1942	89.0%	★★★★☆
2023	88.2	189 of 1957	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	89.5	173 of 1970	91.2%	★★★★★
2021	84.5	192 of 1680	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	81.1	305 of 2019	84.9%	★★★★☆
2018	89.8	139 of 1964	92.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	77.8	405 of 1947	79.2%	★★★★☆
2024	80.9	317 of 1959	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	85.6	232 of 1984	88.3%	★★★★☆
2022	89.7	157 of 1977	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	95.9	48 of 1707	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	94.4	63 of 2019	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	92.1	107 of 1972	94.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	65.7	444 of 1389	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.1	372 of 1392	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	73.7	295 of 1419	79.2%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	191 of 1425	86.6%	★★★★☆
2021	83.1	142 of 1308	89.1%	★★★★☆
2019	82.5	171 of 1462	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	83.3	183 of 1463	87.5%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	87.5	159 of 1368	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	95.1	51 of 1363	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	95.7	46 of 1367	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	94.4	65 of 1369	95.3%	★★★★★
2021	91.2	78 of 1241	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	98.1	16 of 1356	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	97.8	25 of 1293	98.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	88.8	109 of 1248	91.3%	★★★★★
2024	93.1	65 of 1251	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	94.9	42 of 1275	96.7%	★★★★★
2022	92.8	74 of 1286	94.2%	★★★★★
2021	85.1	102 of 1017	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	95.7	25 of 1276	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	97.1	20 of 1226	98.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	81.7	193 of 1271	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	92.7	75 of 1264	94.1%	★★★★★
2023	94.5	50 of 1292	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	94.6	50 of 1286	96.1%	★★★★★
2021	91.0	68 of 1048	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	98.0	19 of 1296	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	95.4	36 of 1223	97.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	74.7	189 of 884	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	86.4	87 of 875	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	88.5	66 of 895	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	84.5	93 of 898	89.6%	★★★★☆
2021	77.5	131 of 813	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	95.2	17 of 905	98.1%	★★★★★
2018	95.6	20 of 889	97.8%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Female (2025)85th percentile~ school

Male (2025)79th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile-16 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)91st percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)85th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)79th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science81%+38 vs state

English Language Arts72%+19 vs state

Mathematics65%+27 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thomas Metcalf School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)							IAR Mathematics (2025)							% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Pneumococcal (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Thomas Metcalf School	Public	PK, KG-8	ISU Campus Box 7000	Normal	61790	McLean County	ISU Laboratory Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(309) 438-7621	459	53	8.6	7.0%	324 (70.6%)	15 (3.3%)	47 (10.2%)	40 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.2%)	83	327^th of 2056 public elementary schools	84.1%		86	251^st of 2067 public elementary schools	87.9%	76	72.0	89.8	66.0	81.3	74.0	72.0	66.7	75.0	72.4	53.2	68.1	58.0	40.0	86.3	85.4	65.2	98.0	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.0	98.2	11.1	29.1
Oakdale Elementary School	Public	K-5	601 S Adelaide St	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4421	386	28	13.8	65.0%	137 (35.5%)	150 (38.9%)	48 (12.4%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (12.2%)	29.3	1451^st of 2056 public elementary schools	29.4%		22.6	1603^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	22.4%	152	23.3		50.7	26.9	38.3				39.9	43.7	17.3	10.2				25.3	96.8	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	96.3	97.1			$16,930	$2,278	$14,652
Glenn Elementary School	Public	K-5	306 Glenn Ave	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4418	272	16	16.5	49.3%	91 (33.5%)	47 (17.3%)	35 (12.9%)	70 (25.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (9.9%)	53	945^th of 2056 public elementary schools	54.0%		48.8	966^th of 2067 public elementary schools	53.3%	21	45.0		41.7	43.6	66.7				50.9	38.9	43.6	35.0				39.1	96.5	96.5	96.5	96.5		96.9	96.5			$12,744	$706	$12,038
Fairview Elementary School	Public	K-5	416 Fairview St	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4415	280	16	17.0	54.6%	114 (40.7%)	99 (35.4%)	34 (12.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.1%)	46.1	1079^th of 2056 public elementary schools	47.5%		37.7	1208^th of 2067 public elementary schools	41.6%	129	44.2		46.6	51.2	55.8				50.7	35.6	27.9	23.3				29.7	98.8	98.4	98.4	98.4	99.6	98.4	98.4			$15,147	$1,713	$13,434
Colene Hoose Elementary School	Public	K-5	600 Grandview Dr	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4414	413	38	10.9	34.1%	213 (51.6%)	34 (8.2%)	51 (12.3%)	67 (16.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (11.1%)	48.5	1026^th of 2056 public elementary schools	50.1%		50.9	914^th of 2067 public elementary schools	55.8%	112	42.3		44.6	36.2	47.9				42.9	47.7	43.5	33.8				41.5	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3		97.1	97.3			$18,246	$1,107	$17,139
Bent Elementary School	Public	K-5	904 N Roosevelt Ave	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 828-4315	389	27	14.4	66.8%	90 (23.1%)	56 (14.4%)	201 (51.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (10.5%)	28.3	1476^th of 2056 public elementary schools	28.2%		26.1	1514^th of 2067 public elementary schools	26.8%	38	20.5		44.0	35.7	26.7				35.8	46.0	23.2	11.1				27.2	96.6	96.9	96.9	96.9		95.5	96.1			$18,844	$3,131	$15,714
Parkside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1900 W College Ave	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4422	322	23	13.9	53.1%	164 (50.9%)	45 (14.0%)	64 (19.9%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (13.7%)	35.2	1309^th of 2056 public elementary schools	36.3%		28.7	1443^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	30.2%	134	27.3		39.1	51.2	27.3				38.9	39.1	37.2	18.2				32.5	96.3	96.3	96.3	96.3	97.3	96.3	96.3			$16,679	$1,622	$15,057
Sheridan Elementary School	Public	K-5	1403 W Walnut St	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 828-2359	314	28	11.0	82.8%	78 (24.8%)	148 (47.1%)	23 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (20.4%)	11.9	1879^th of 2056 public elementary schools	8.6%		12.4	1960^th of 2067 public elementary schools	5.2%	81	15.7		32.9	5.7	25.5				22.4	20.0	3.8	0.0				9.2	95.8	96.4	96.4	96.4	98.5	96.4	96.1			$18,445	$4,084	$14,361
Sugar Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 N Towanda Ave	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4425	468	25	18.5	60.5%	184 (39.3%)	154 (32.9%)	43 (9.2%)	26 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (12.6%)	38.3	1243^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	39.5%		43.1	1086^th of 2067 public elementary schools	47.5%	157	44.4		23.9	32.4	61.1				37.8	26.1	24.3	36.1				28.6	94.7	96.0	96.0	96.0	97.5	95.7	94.4	45.1		$18,494	$1,411	$17,083
Prairieland Elementary School	Public	K-5	1300 E Raab Rd	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4424	450	29	15.4	22.2%	327 (72.7%)	32 (7.1%)	38 (8.4%)	21 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.1%)	77.7	443^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	78.5%		79.1	385^th of 2067 public elementary schools	81.4%	58	67.1		58.3	60.8	74.4				64.6	50.0	54.4	67.1				57.3	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0			$14,164	$628	$13,537

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas Metcalf School

What is the racial makeup of Thomas Metcalf School?

Students at Thomas Metcalf School are 71% White, 10% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 3% African American.

What district is Thomas Metcalf School in?

ISU Laboratory Schools

Is Thomas Metcalf School a good school?

Thomas Metcalf School ranks 327^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Thomas Metcalf School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 459 students attended Thomas Metcalf School.

Rate Thomas Metcalf School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2025

2024–25 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 30, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataOct 30, 2024

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.