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Founders Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

1729^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Founders Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Dekalb, Illinois, serving grades K-5 with a total enrollment of 543 students. The school is part of the DeKalb CUSD 428 district, which is ranked 767 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Founders Elementary School consistently ranks in the bottom 20% of Illinois elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for most years. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics are significantly lower than the state and district averages, with only 23.7% of students proficient in ELA and 19.9% proficient in Mathematics in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%, respectively. The school also has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.7% to 27.1% in recent years, which are significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, 76.24% of Founders Elementary School students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Interestingly, the nearby West Elementary School and South Prairie Elementary School, which are part of the Sycamore CUSD 427 district, significantly outperform Founders Elementary School and the other DeKalb schools in academic achievement, with proficiency rates well above the state averages. This suggests that the challenges faced by Founders Elementary School and the DeKalb district may be unique and require targeted interventions and strategies to address the underlying issues and improve educational outcomes for the students.

565

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,460

Per pupil spending ?

78.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

821 S 7th St
Dekalb, IL 60115-4572

(815) 754-3800

District: DeKalb CUSD 428

Students who attend Founders Elementary School usually attend:

High:

DeKalb High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.9%

African American:

29.6%

White:

18.2%

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Compare Founders Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 46th percentile in 2015 → 16th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (20% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school20%

District avg21%

Illinois avg44%

1,729^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 30 pts since 2015

From bottom 46% (2015) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 8Elementary Schools in the DeKalb CUSD 428

767^th of 811DeKalb CUSD 428 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	17.5	1729 of 2056	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.5	1665 of 2067	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.6	1731 of 2077	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.1	1777 of 2082	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.3	1670 of 1948	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.7	1704 of 2086	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.0	1908 of 2037	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	17.4	1757 of 2044	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.9	1290 of 2046	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.2	1104 of 2052	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	31.3	1509 of 2093	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	19.5	625 of 688	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	577 of 655	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.6	583 of 692	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.9	645 of 684	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.4	587 of 711	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.8	646 of 698	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	23.3	863 of 1049	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.7	496 of 907	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.9	585 of 788	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.2	696 of 826	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.5	663 of 788	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.3	714 of 768	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.9	508 of 537	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.6	705 of 743	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	26.9	628 of 718	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.6	1538 of 1942	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.1	1503 of 1942	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.4	1662 of 1957	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.5	1648 of 1970	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.7	1505 of 1680	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.1	1719 of 2019	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.2	1869 of 1964	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.8	797 of 982	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.4	779 of 959	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.2	870 of 970	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.0	939 of 954	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.5	712 of 742	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	820 of 955	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	929 of 938	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.1	1541 of 1800	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.7	1407 of 1793	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.3	1500 of 1808	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.9	1547 of 1763	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.8	1273 of 1514	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.4	1587 of 1816	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.7	1739 of 1765	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.4	1683 of 1947	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.8	1587 of 1959	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	1576 of 1984	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.9	1729 of 1977	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	1478 of 1707	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.7	1571 of 2019	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.5	1796 of 1972	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.4	1151 of 1292	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.2	706 of 1156	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.1	823 of 1113	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.1	782 of 1194	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.6	611 of 763	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.3	1105 of 1389	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.5	957 of 1392	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.8	756 of 1419	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.2	1021 of 1425	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	1188 of 1308	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.2	1231 of 1462	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.9	1377 of 1463	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)26th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)21st percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)20th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)19th percentile+3 vs school

Disabled (2025)18th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)14th percentile~ school

Male (2025)14th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)11th percentile-5 vs school

African American (2025)9th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts24%-29 vs state

Mathematics20%-19 vs state

Science16%-24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Founders Elementary 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)	% Pneumococcal (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 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Founders Elementary School	Public	K-5	821 S 7th St	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-3800	565	39	14.5	78.1%	103 (18.2%)	167 (29.6%)	248 (43.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (7.6%)	17.5	1729^th of 2056 public elementary schools	15.9%		20.5	1665^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.4%	64	16.3	23.3	34.2	15.2	23.7	24.4	26.6	9.9	19.9	97.3	97.1	97.1	97.1	32.1	95.8	97.1		$18,460	$1,482	$16,977
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-5	220 E Sunset Pl	DeKalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2212	272	17	15.8	62.9%	100 (36.8%)	123 (45.2%)	28 (10.3%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.0%)	12.9	1849^th of 2056 public elementary schools	10.1%		16.3	1787^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.5%	62	12.5	20.0	21.6	29.2	23.4	16.4	15.7	10.4	14.3	95.5	95.1	95.1	95.1	99.2	94.7	95.1		$18,066	$1,371	$16,695
Tyler Elementary School	Public	K-5	1021 Alden Circle	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2389	265	19	13.9	78.9%	57 (21.5%)	148 (55.8%)	29 (10.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (10.6%)	10.1	1942^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	5.5%		14.4	1871^st of 2067 public elementary schools	9.5%	71	9.3	16.2	26.5	11.6	18.6	13.5	16.3	4.7	11.6	92.8	97.9	97.9	97.9		97.5	97.5		$19,143	$1,692	$17,451
Littlejohn Elementary School	Public	K-5	1121 School St	DeKalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2258	362	24	14.9	70.7%	98 (27.1%)	51 (14.1%)	184 (50.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.7%)	26.4	1528^th of 2056 public elementary schools	25.7%		22.7	1600^th of 2067 public elementary schools	22.6%	72	20.6	31.0	35.2	27.1	30.8	39.0	29.6	20.0	29.0	98.1	98.3	98.3	98.3		96.1	97.5		$19,282	$1,674	$17,608
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	211 McCormick Dr	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2263	308	28	11.1	56.8%	111 (36.0%)	95 (30.8%)	56 (18.2%)	21 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.1%)	56.1	885^th of 2056 public elementary schools	57.0%		55.4	814^th of 2067 public elementary schools	60.6%	71	39.6	40.9	40.4	58.3	46.0	42.4	53.2	56.3	49.7	96.5	96.2	96.2	96.2	98.1	95.0	96.5		$21,393	$1,449	$19,944
Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School	Public	K-5	3225 Sangamon Dr	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-9936	328	23	13.9	80.2%	53 (16.2%)	182 (55.5%)	48 (14.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (13.1%)	11	1911^th of 2056 public elementary schools	7.1%		13.3	1931^st of 2067 public elementary schools	6.6%	20	13.7	6.0	17.8	29.4	17.8	10.0	12.3	13.7	12.1	98.2	97.9	97.9	97.9	99.7	97.9	97.9		$19,757	$1,506	$18,251
Cortland Elementary School	Public	K-5	370 E Lexington Ave	Cortland	60112	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2360	523	40	13.0	62.1%	195 (37.3%)	61 (11.7%)	221 (42.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.6%)	23.6	1588^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.8%		20.5	1667^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.4%	79	30.3	29.3	24.4	33.3	28.9	24.0	19.5	25.3	22.8	97.3	97.7	97.7	97.7		96.5	96.1		$20,673	$1,871	$18,802
South Prairie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Borden Ave	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8299	456	28	16.5	34.4%	324 (71.1%)	26 (5.7%)	75 (16.4%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.5%)	56.1	886^th of 2056 public elementary schools	56.9%		49.7	945^th of 2067 public elementary schools	54.3%	59	49.2	48.9	45.8	45.8	46.7	42.6	42.4	54.2	46.7	98.4	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.6	98.2	98.2	29.4	$13,822	$882	$12,940
Malta Elementary School	Public	K-5	5068 IL Route 38	Malta	60150	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2970	293	20	14.7	65.9%	108 (36.9%)	112 (38.2%)	53 (18.1%)	6 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.4%)	18.6	1703^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	17.2%		28.3	1457^th of 2067 public elementary schools	29.5%	246	16.7	36.2	23.6	18.5	25.6	40.4	12.7	3.7	17.9	97.9	97.9	97.9	97.9	98.6	97.2	97.9		$19,786	$1,964	$17,822
West Elementary School	Public	K-5	718 S Locust St	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8219	270	24	11.2	60.0%	176 (65.2%)	15 (5.6%)	57 (21.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.4%)	59.9	812^th of 2056 public elementary schools	60.5%		42.9	1095^th of 2067 public elementary schools	47.0%	283	40.0	52.3	52.9	60.0	55.3	61.4	38.2	37.8	46.3	95.2	95.6	95.6	95.6		95.2	94.4		$16,190	$285	$15,905

Frequently Asked Questions about Founders Elementary School

How many students attend Founders Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 565 students attended Founders Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Founders Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Founders Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : DeKalb High School

Is Founders Elementary School a good school?

Founders Elementary School ranks in the bottom 15.9% of Illinois elementary schools.

What district is Founders Elementary School in?

DeKalb CUSD 428

What is the racial makeup of Founders Elementary School?

Students at Founders Elementary School are 44% Hispanic, 30% African American, 18% White, 8% Two or more races.

Rate Founders Elementary 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.