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Prairie Knolls Middle School

Public Grades 6-7

111^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 92% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Prairie Knolls Middle School is a public middle school in Elgin, Illinois, serving 777 students in grades 6-7. The school is part of the Central CUSD 301 district, which is ranked 84 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Prairie Knolls Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Illinois, with a statewide ranking between 45-161 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exams is exceptional, with 82.4% of all students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 59.4% proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly higher than the state averages. The school's performance is particularly strong in certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students (ranked 53rd out of 669 Illinois middle schools) and English Language Learners (ranked 23rd out of 483 Illinois middle schools).

While Carpentersville Middle School in the lower-ranked CUSD 300 district lags behind Prairie Knolls, some nearby schools like Central Middle School (also in Central CUSD 301) and schools in the higher-ranked St. Charles CUSD 303 district also demonstrate strong academic performance. Additionally, Prairie Knolls has seen a decrease in chronic absenteeism rates, from 26.3% in 2023-2024 to 10.6% in 2024-2025, and has increased its spending per student from $11,551 in 2020-2021 to $13,890 in 2023-2024.

770

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,758

Per pupil spending ?

16.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

225 Nesler Rd
Elgin, IL 60124-4371

(847) 717-8100

District: Central CUSD 301

Students who attend Prairie Knolls Middle School usually attend:

High:

Central High School

Feeder schools for Prairie Knolls Middle School:

Elementary:	Country Trails Elementary
	Howard B Thomas Grade School
	Lily Lake Grade School
	Prairie View Grade School

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.0%

Hispanic:

16.5%

Asian:

15.2%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Prairie Knolls Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 79th percentile in 2015 → 92nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (71% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of Illinois middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 13 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school71%

District avg69%

Illinois avg46%

111^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 8%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From top 21% (2015) to top 8% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Middle Schools in the Central CUSD 301

84^th of 811Central 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
2025	90.7	111 of 1368	91.9%	★★★★★
2024	87.7	136 of 1363	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	91.8	93 of 1367	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	53 of 1369	96.1%	★★★★★
2021	83.0	161 of 1241	87.0%	★★★★☆
2019	93.6	61 of 1356	95.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.4	52 of 1293	96.0%	★★★★★
2017	94.7	45 of 1293	96.5%	★★★★★
2016	90.6	88 of 1294	93.2%	★★★★★
2015	74.0	274 of 1302	79.0%	★★★★☆
2014	86.0	140 of 1322	89.4%	★★★★☆
2013	86.6	137 of 1367	90.0%	★★★★★
2012	84.8	112 of 1365	91.8%	★★★★★
2011	82.3	148 of 1344	89.0%	★★★★☆
2010	83.9	115 of 1327	91.3%	★★★★★
2009	84.2	105 of 1318	92.0%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	74.6	40 of 186	78.5%	★★★★☆
2024	66.3	62 of 184	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.8	50 of 192	74.0%	★★★★☆
2022	69.9	57 of 198	71.2%	★★★★☆
2021	40.5	72 of 112	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.3	40 of 201	80.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.4	25 of 209	88.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	72.7	99 of 694	85.7%	★★★★☆
2024	49.9	226 of 639	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.3	89 of 674	86.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	86.8	23 of 483	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	79.0	28 of 486	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	93.8	6 of 480	98.8%	★★★★★
2022	83.6	17 of 454	96.3%	★★★★★
2021	45.5	116 of 277	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.2	71 of 339	79.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	90.8	85 of 1248	93.2%	★★★★★
2024	86.6	134 of 1251	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	90.0	96 of 1275	92.5%	★★★★★
2022	94.4	51 of 1286	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	82.1	127 of 1017	87.5%	★★★★☆
2019	92.9	56 of 1276	95.6%	★★★★★
2018	94.0	43 of 1226	96.5%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	87.7	53 of 669	92.1%	★★★★★
2024	84.3	57 of 643	91.1%	★★★★★
2023	92.3	26 of 661	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	95.4	20 of 662	97.0%	★★★★★
2021	79.2	57 of 517	89.0%	★★★★☆
2019	91.4	25 of 639	96.1%	★★★★★
2018	89.4	26 of 590	95.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.6	61 of 1229	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	88.9	58 of 1219	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	96.7	14 of 1234	98.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.0	9 of 1221	99.3%	★★★★★
2021	90.0	42 of 1019	95.9%	★★★★★
2019	89.7	46 of 1217	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	28 of 1161	97.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	88.4	125 of 1271	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	86.1	135 of 1264	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	91.7	82 of 1292	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.8	46 of 1286	96.4%	★★★★★
2021	78.4	166 of 1048	84.2%	★★★★☆
2019	93.2	60 of 1296	95.4%	★★★★★
2018	92.4	62 of 1223	94.9%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	74.5	55 of 204	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	79.4	35 of 184	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	77.5	42 of 194	78.4%	★★★★☆
2022	75.1	43 of 195	77.9%	★★★★☆
2021	54.6	36 of 97	62.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	82.6	107 of 812	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	51.2	285 of 802	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.7	169 of 805	79.0%	★★★★☆
2022	74.1	79 of 781	89.9%	★★★★★
2021	44.3	228 of 548	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.8	273 of 792	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.8	85 of 602	85.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	78.5	157 of 884	82.2%	★★★★☆
2024	71.3	205 of 875	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	77.7	152 of 895	83.0%	★★★★☆
2022	87.4	75 of 898	91.6%	★★★★★
2021	73.0	167 of 813	79.5%	★★★★☆
2019	86.0	74 of 905	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	88.9	57 of 889	93.6%	★★★★★

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)95th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)95th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)92nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)90th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)87th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2025)86th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)82nd percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2025)78th percentile-13 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)73rd percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts82%+29 vs state

Mathematics59%+21 vs state

★

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Schools Near Prairie Knolls Middle School

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)	% 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	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 8th 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 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Prairie Knolls Middle School	Public	6-7	225 Nesler Rd	Elgin	60124	Kane County	Central CUSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 717-8100	770	45	17.2	16.8%	470 (61.0%)	20 (2.6%)	127 (16.5%)	117 (15.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.4%)	90.7	111^th of 1368 public middle schools	91.9%		87.7	136^th of 1363 public middle schools	90.0%	25		87.6	76.7		82.4	65.0	53.3		59.4	98.7	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.8	98.5	98.8	96.3	$14,758	$241	$14,517
Kimball Middle School	Public	7-8	451 N McLean Blvd	Elgin	60123	Kane County	School District U-46	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 888-5290	501	41	12.1	63.9%	56 (11.2%)	51 (10.2%)	371 (74.1%)	6 (1.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.6%)	17	1169^th of 1368 public middle schools	14.5%		16.3	1192^nd of 1363 public middle schools	12.5%	23	24.5		25.2	30.3	27.7		13.4	7.7	10.7	99.5	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.1	99.7	98.4	$24,597	$1,562	$23,035
Abbott Middle School	Public	7-8	949 Van St	Elgin	60123	Kane County	School District U-46	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 888-5160	551	43	12.7	69.3%	54 (9.8%)	55 (10.0%)	407 (73.9%)	21 (3.8%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.8%)	18.3	1153^rd of 1368 public middle schools	15.7%		15.1	1229^th of 1363 public middle schools	9.8%	76	23.5		29.8	23.0	26.3		15.7	12.3	13.9	97.3	97.1	97.1	97.1	96.5	96.0	97.3	95.6	$22,688	$1,845	$20,843
Kenyon Woods Middle School	Public	7-8	1515 Raymond St	South Elgin	60177	Kane County	School District U-46	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 289-6685	873	62	14.0	37.8%	332 (38.0%)	30 (3.4%)	384 (44.0%)	88 (10.1%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	34 (3.9%)	59	500^th of 1368 public middle schools	63.5%		54.2	538^th of 1363 public middle schools	60.5%	38	48.7		55.3	57.4	56.4		36.4	31.6	34.0	97.6	97.9	97.9	97.9	97.7	97.6	97.6	97.2	$21,479	$1,175	$20,305
Larsen Middle School	Public	7-8	665 Dundee Ave	Elgin	60120	Kane County	School District U-46	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 888-5250	570	40	14.3	62.8%	42 (7.4%)	26 (4.6%)	454 (79.6%)	34 (6.0%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.6%)	20.3	1108^th of 1368 public middle schools	19.0%		22.6	1048^th of 1363 public middle schools	23.1%	60	23.9		32.2	29.2	30.8		15.6	13.3	14.5	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	98.2	97.1	97.6	97.2	$20,607	$1,739	$18,868
Ellis Middle School	Public	7-8	225 S Liberty St	Elgin	60120	Kane County	School District U-46	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 888-5151	496	41	12.0	72.4%	22 (4.4%)	24 (4.8%)	428 (86.3%)	11 (2.2%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	19.8	1118^th of 1368 public middle schools	18.3%		24.2	1018^th of 1363 public middle schools	25.3%	100	25.0		25.0	38.1	31.7		10.3	13.1	11.7	98.9	98.8	98.8	98.8	99.3	97.9	98.2	97.7	$21,428	$1,884	$19,544
Central Middle School	Public	8	44W303 Plato Rd	Burlington	60109	Kane County	Central CUSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 464-6000	418	23	18.4	16.5%	246 (58.9%)	10 (2.4%)	74 (17.7%)	66 (15.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	91	105^th of 1368 public middle schools	92.3%					(n/a)	66.6			82.7	82.7			58.2	58.2	97.7	97.5	97.5	97.5	98.5	97.2	98.0	97.7	$14,396	$241	$14,155
Dundee Middle School	Public	6-8	4200 W Main St	Dundee	60118	Kane County	Cusd 300	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 426-1485	1,144	74	15.4	36.7%	614 (53.7%)	43 (3.8%)	347 (30.3%)	92 (8.0%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (3.7%)	71.5	342^nd of 1368 public middle schools	75.0%		66.7	382^nd of 1363 public middle schools	72.0%	40	57.4	57.1	56.3	67.6	60.6	42.2	45.3	44.4	44.0	96.5	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.0	96.8	95.4	$16,126	$369	$15,757
Carpentersville Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Cleveland Ave	Carpentersville	60110	Kane County	Cusd 300	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 426-1380	1,142	86	13.2	86.4%	59 (5.2%)	61 (5.3%)	999 (87.5%)	6 (0.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.1%)	11.6	1282^nd of 1368 public middle schools	6.3%		16	1200^th of 1363 public middle schools	12.0%	82	14.4	20.3	18.2	22.2	20.2	9.2	9.3	5.7	8.0	98.6	99.0	99.0	99.0	99.0	98.5	98.8	97.9	$16,437	$879	$15,558
Wredling Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 Dunham Rd	Saint Charles	60174	Kane County	St Charles CUSD 303	No	(n/a)	No	No	(331) 228-3700	1,289	98	13.1	19.6%	834 (64.7%)	26 (2.0%)	217 (16.8%)	156 (12.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	52 (4.0%)	92.2	90^th of 1368 public middle schools	93.4%		94.4	61^st of 1363 public middle schools	95.5%	29	74.2	81.4	77.4	77.2	78.8	66.7	63.0	63.1	64.4	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.3	66.4	98.1	98.7	96.5	$17,330	$325	$17,005

Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Knolls Middle School

What district is Prairie Knolls Middle School in?

Central CUSD 301

Is Prairie Knolls Middle School a good school?

Yes. Prairie Knolls Middle School ranks in the top 8.1% of Illinois middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Prairie Knolls Middle School?

Students at Prairie Knolls Middle School are 61% White, 16% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American.

How many students attend Prairie Knolls Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 770 students attended Prairie Knolls Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Prairie Knolls Middle School attend?

Students who attend Prairie Knolls Middle School usually go on to attend Central High School

Rate Prairie Knolls Middle School!

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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.