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Howard B Thomas Grade School

Q: Is Howard B Thomas Grade School a good school?

Howard B Thomas Grade School ranks 404 th of 1737 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

404^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,737 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 77% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Howard B Thomas Grade School is a PK–5 school in Burlington, Illinois, with 678 students in Central CUSD 301. SchoolDigger ranks it in the 77th statewide percentile for 2025–2026, gives it 4 stars, and places it 404th out of 1,737 schools. Its clearest standout is fifth-grade science: 69% of students were proficient, 21 points above the state, 7 above the district, and 13 above the nearby-school average.

The school is above state proficiency in all-grades ELA and math, but its comparisons with the district and nearby schools are mixed. ELA proficiency was 72%, compared with 56% statewide, 80% in the district, and a 68% nearby average. Math was 56%—above the state’s 40%, but below the district’s 63% and the nearby average of 60%. Among the 11 schools in the local comparison, including itself, it ranks sixth in both subjects. Science is its strongest result against nearby schools; math is the clearest relative weakness.

ELA rose from 54% in 2023–2024 to 72% in 2025–2026, while math increased from 34% to 56%, with little change from the previous year. The school’s lead over the state grew in both subjects over that period, though it remained below the district in ELA and math. The 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 15.2, close to the nearby average of 14.8. In 2024–2025, 19% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with a nearby average of 24%; this is context, not an explanation for results. SchoolDigger’s statewide effectiveness ranking for Asian students was at the 42nd percentile in 2025–2026, compared with the school’s overall 77th percentile, and had fallen 19 percentile points from the prior year.

678

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,126

Per pupil spending ?

19.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

97.3%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

44W575 Plato Rd
Burlington, IL 60109-0395

(847) 464-6008

District: Central CUSD 301

Students who attend Howard B Thomas Grade School usually attend:

Middle:	Central Middle School
	Prairie Knolls Middle School
High:	Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.9%

Asian:

25.1%

Hispanic:

20.1%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Howard B Thomas Grade School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 69th percentile in 2016 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (65% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Illinois elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Central CUSD 301's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school65%

District avg68%

Illinois avg48%

404^th of 1,737

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 31% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Central CUSD 301

97^th of 738Central CUSD 301 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	73.3	404 of 1737	76.7%	★★★★☆
2025	79.8	399 of 2056	80.6%	★★★★☆
2024	72.4	514 of 2067	75.1%	★★★★☆
2023	65.3	643 of 2077	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.5	593 of 2082	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	57.6	702 of 1948	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.7	565 of 2086	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	61.6	727 of 2037	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.3	559 of 2044	72.7%	★★★★☆
2016	65.1	644 of 2046	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.7	768 of 2052	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	77.4	460 of 2093	78.0%	★★★★☆
2013	77.1	468 of 2167	78.4%	★★★★☆
2012	81.7	290 of 2166	86.6%	★★★★☆
2011	73.4	599 of 2147	72.1%	★★★★☆
2010	75.7	533 of 2139	75.1%	★★★★☆
2009	75.0	560 of 2120	73.6%	★★★★☆
2008	71.5	668 of 2092	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.1	938 of 2095	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.3	946 of 2086	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	57.2	1065 of 2022	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	64.6	855 of 2030	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2003	57.5	1054 of 2020	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	47.9	102 of 177	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.5	92 of 234	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.3	100 of 219	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.4	175 of 237	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.9	166 of 226	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.5	106 of 134	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	58.6	108 of 243	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.9	360 of 1049	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.9	241 of 907	73.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	70.4	138 of 788	82.5%	★★★★☆
2024	61.6	181 of 826	78.1%	★★★★☆
2023	67.9	135 of 788	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	49.4	299 of 768	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.4	409 of 537	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	84.1	36 of 743	95.2%	★★★★★
2018	65.0	141 of 718	80.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	58.3	486 of 1286	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.1	418 of 1942	78.5%	★★★★☆
2024	62.8	624 of 1942	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.5	550 of 1957	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	420 of 1970	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	58.0	611 of 1680	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.6	561 of 2019	72.2%	★★★★☆
2018	60.1	711 of 1964	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	64.8	147 of 536	72.6%	★★★★☆
2025	71.4	200 of 982	79.6%	★★★★☆
2024	59.3	286 of 959	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	61.7	269 of 970	72.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.3	147 of 954	84.6%	★★★★☆
2021	79.0	68 of 742	90.8%	★★★★★
2019	43.6	521 of 955	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.7	481 of 938	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	378 of 1800	79.0%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	169 of 1793	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	63.0	496 of 1808	72.6%	★★★★☆
2022	67.3	372 of 1763	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	70.5	249 of 1514	83.6%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	428 of 1816	76.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.5	341 of 1765	80.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	67.3	370 of 1311	71.8%	★★★★☆
2025	80.2	356 of 1947	81.7%	★★★★☆
2024	78.4	364 of 1959	81.4%	★★★★☆
2023	58.5	711 of 1984	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.2	744 of 1977	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.5	729 of 1707	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.9	533 of 2019	73.6%	★★★★☆
2018	62.8	656 of 1972	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.7	459 of 1292	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.1	221 of 1195	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	68.1	257 of 1156	77.8%	★★★★☆
2022	59.1	294 of 1113	73.6%	★★★★☆
2021	28.1	470 of 640	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.3	682 of 1194	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.4	405 of 763	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	55.4	514 of 1149	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.3	486 of 1389	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.7	630 of 1392	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.2	815 of 1419	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.5	774 of 1425	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.4	971 of 1308	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.8	758 of 1462	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.2	718 of 1463	50.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)82nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)73rd percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)72nd percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2025)66th percentile-15 vs school

Special Education (2025)64th percentile-16 vs school

Female (2026)62nd percentile-15 vs school

White (2026)55th percentile-21 vs school

Asian (2026)42nd percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts72%+16 vs state

Science69%+21 vs state

Mathematics56%+16 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near Howard B Thomas Grade 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ISA Science (2026)	IAR English Language Arts (2026)					IAR Mathematics (2026)					Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 5th 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 All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Howard B Thomas Grade School	Public	PK, KG-5	44W575 Plato Rd	Burlington	60109	Kane County	Central CUSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 464-6008	678	44	15.2	19.3%	325 (47.9%)	14 (2.1%)	136 (20.1%)	170 (25.1%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.1%)	73.3	404^th of 1737 public elementary schools	76.7%		79.8	399^th of 2056 public elementary schools	80.6%	5	68.9	60.0	72.4	81.6		71.8	73.3	48.7	48.0		55.7	97.3%		$16,126	$273	$15,853
Lily Lake Grade School	Public	K-5	5N720 IL Route 47	Maple Park	60151	Kane County	Central CUSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 464-6011	275	19	14.8	24.0%	211 (76.7%)	1 (0.4%)	48 (17.5%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.4%)	83.3	234^th of 1737 public elementary schools	86.5%		86.8	249^th of 2056 public elementary schools	87.9%	15	75.7	68.8	76.4	81.1		75.0	75.0	61.8	56.8		65.0	94.1%		$17,036	$273	$16,763
Prairie View Grade School	Public	PK, KG-5	10N630 Nesler Rd	Elgin	60124	Kane County	Central CUSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 464-6014	615	40	15.5	16.3%	355 (57.7%)	18 (2.9%)	82 (13.3%)	130 (21.1%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (3.9%)	67	530^th of 1737 public elementary schools	69.5%		81.4	365^th of 2056 public elementary schools	82.2%	165	47.1	56.0	80.2	69.6		69.6	57.8	63.8	52.9		58.4	97.2%		$17,265	$273	$16,992
Country Trails Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3701 Highland Woods Blvd	Elgin	60124	Kane County	Central CUSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 717-8000	751	44	17.0	17.6%	380 (50.6%)	23 (3.1%)	124 (16.5%)	179 (23.8%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (5.3%)	80.5	289^th of 1737 public elementary schools	83.4%		87.5	234^th of 2056 public elementary schools	88.6%	55	64.4	68.3	72.9	78.2		73.3	77.5	62.2	57.0		65.2	95.2%		$14,878	$273	$14,605
Hampshire Elementary School	Public	K-5	321 Terwilliger Ave	Hampshire	60140	Kane County	Cusd 300	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 683-2171	446	29	15.1	31.2%	320 (71.7%)	7 (1.6%)	100 (22.4%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.2%)	51.5	813^th of 1737 public elementary schools	53.2%		74.2	506^th of 2056 public elementary schools	75.4%	307	38.4	53.5	60.0	61.6		58.6	55.6	54.3	44.2		50.9	93.9%		$15,958	$302	$15,656
Wasco Elementary School	Public	K-5	4N782 School St	Wasco	60183	Kane County	St Charles CUSD 303	No	(n/a)	No	No	(331) 228-2900	466	29	16.3	13.3%	372 (79.8%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (12.9%)	11 (2.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.3%)	77.4	345^th of 1737 public elementary schools	80.1%		87.7	229^th of 2056 public elementary schools	88.9%	116	61.3	60.0	78.9	80.3		72.4	61.2	71.8	55.8		62.7	94.1%		$17,316	$565	$16,751
Big Timber Elementary School	Public	K-5	1400 S Ridgecrest Dr	Hampshire	60140	Kane County	Cusd 300	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(224) 584-5500	451	38	11.8	33.7%	234 (51.9%)	12 (2.7%)	148 (32.8%)	28 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.2%)	46.9	892^nd of 1737 public elementary schools	48.6%		55.6	896^th of 2056 public elementary schools	56.4%	4	38.9	67.9	59.4	34.7		54.5	72.6	56.3	15.3		49.1	96.4%		$19,203	$302	$18,901
Otter Creek Elementary School	Public	K-6	2701 Hopps Rd	Elgin	60124	Kane County	School District U-46	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 888-6995	437	41	10.7	46.5%	108 (24.7%)	47 (10.8%)	208 (47.6%)	51 (11.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	21 (4.8%)	33.4	1129^th of 1737 public elementary schools	35.0%		44.8	1110^th of 2056 public elementary schools	46.0%	19	44.3	31.4	49.1	60.0	43.1	46.9	45.1	45.5	40.0	26.2	38.6	98.8%		$18,963	$650	$18,313
Corron Elementary School	Public	K-5	455 Thornwood Way	South Elgin	60177	Kane County	St Charles CUSD 303	No	(n/a)	No	No	(331) 228-6900	487	34	14.3	14.6%	304 (62.4%)	8 (1.6%)	63 (12.9%)	84 (17.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.3%)	92.6	83^rd of 1737 public elementary schools	95.2%		88.5	213^th of 2056 public elementary schools	89.6%	130	68.0	80.0	89.7	82.7		84.1	88.1	80.9	75.5		80.4	96.3%		$20,809	$564	$20,246
Gary D Wright Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 Ketchum Rd	Hampshire	60140	Kane County	Cusd 300	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 683-5700	742	41	17.9	36.3%	414 (55.8%)	59 (8.0%)	193 (26.0%)	30 (4.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.1%)	38.9	1032^nd of 1737 public elementary schools	40.6%		53.7	928^th of 2056 public elementary schools	54.9%	104	34.5	56.5	57.0	42.0		51.9	47.8	48.4	35.3		43.9	96.2%		$14,366	$302	$14,064

Frequently Asked Questions about Howard B Thomas Grade School

What district is Howard B Thomas Grade School in?

Central CUSD 301

How many students attend Howard B Thomas Grade School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 678 students attended Howard B Thomas Grade School.

Is Howard B Thomas Grade School a good school?

Howard B Thomas Grade School ranks 404^th of 1737 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Howard B Thomas Grade School attend?

Students who attend Howard B Thomas Grade School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Central Middle School
Middle : Prairie Knolls Middle School
High : Central High School

What is the racial makeup of Howard B Thomas Grade School?

Students at Howard B Thomas Grade School are 48% White, 25% Asian, 20% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Rate Howard B Thomas Grade School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresNewOct 30, 2026

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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.