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Paw Paw Junior High School

Q: Is Paw Paw Junior High School a good school?

Paw Paw Junior High School ranks 662 nd of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Paw Paw Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 42 students attended Paw Paw Junior High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Paw Paw Junior High School?

Students at Paw Paw Junior High School are 83% White, 14% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Public Grades 6-8

662^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 52% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Paw Paw Junior High School is a small public middle school located in Paw Paw, Illinois, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of just 28 students. Despite its small size, the school faces significant challenges, including low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic disadvantages among its student population.

Paw Paw Junior High School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Illinois middle schools, with a ranking as low as 1,006 out of 1,241 in the 2020-2021 school year. Its performance on standardized tests is well below state and Paw Paw CUSD 271 district averages, particularly in mathematics. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 19% of Paw Paw students were proficient or better in IAR/Mathematics, compared to 38.5% statewide. The school's performance is especially low for certain subgroups, and its ranking and metrics have generally declined over the past few years.

Compared to nearby middle schools, such as Sandwich Middle School, Serena Middle School, and Somonauk Middle School, Paw Paw Junior High School's performance lags significantly, with higher test scores, lower chronic absenteeism, and better overall rankings at these neighboring institutions. The school's small size, high chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic challenges faced by its student population likely contribute to these disparities.

Students ?

7.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,412

Per pupil spending ?

52.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

511 Chapman St
Paw Paw, IL 61353-8932

(815) 627-2841

District: Paw Paw CUSD 271

Feeder schools for Paw Paw Junior High School:

Elementary:

Paw Paw Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.3%

Hispanic:

14.3%

African American:

2.4%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Paw Paw Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2021 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 33 percentile points since 2021

✓Above the Illinois median (52nd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 7 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg47%

Illinois avg46%

662^nd of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 33 pts since 2021

From bottom 19% (2021) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

474^th of 811Paw Paw CUSD 271 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	47.3	662 of 1368	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.1	529 of 1367	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.5	885 of 1369	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.9	1006 of 1241	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	9.0	1285 of 1286	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	29.9	654 of 884	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	4.9	893 of 898	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)26th percentile-26 vs school

Male (2022)<1st percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science58%+13 vs state

English Language Arts51%~ state avg

Mathematics19%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paw Paw Junior High 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)	% 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 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th 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 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
Paw Paw Junior High School	Public	6-8	511 Chapman St	Paw Paw	61353	Lee County	Paw Paw CUSD 271	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 627-2841	42	6	7.3	52.4%	35 (83.3%)	1 (2.4%)	6 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47.3	662^nd of 1368 public middle schools	51.6%					(n/a)		58.3		42.9		66.7	51.2		9.1		16.7	19.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0		100.0	$22,412	$1,307	$21,105
Northbrook School	Public	5-8	1804 Guiles Ave	Mendota	61342	LaSalle County	Mendota CCSD 289	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 539-6237	526	38	13.8	58.6%	284 (54.0%)	12 (2.3%)	211 (40.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.0%)	49.6	629^th of 1368 public middle schools	54.0%		44.2	685^th of 1363 public middle schools	49.7%	56	37.4	49.6	54.2	37.6	68.0	57.8	55.8	39.3	14.1	34.4	21.6	28.1	98.9	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.4	98.9	99.4	7.8	72.3	$16,233	$804	$15,429
Indian Creek Middle School	Public	5-8	335 E Garfield St	Waterman	60556	DeKalb County	Indian Creek CUSD 425	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 264-3351	213	19	11.5	40.8%	169 (79.3%)	7 (3.3%)	29 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.8%)	50.7	613^th of 1368 public middle schools	55.2%		47.5	624^th of 1363 public middle schools	54.2%	11	34.7	46.4	49.0	46.4	35.8	53.6	46.3	26.5	28.6	31.4	42.9	32.5	93.2	93.7	93.7	93.7	93.7	91.9	93.7		67.1	$17,159	$623	$16,536
Somonauk Middle School	Public	5-8	510 W Lasalle St	Somonauk	60552	DeKalb County	Somonauk CUSD 432	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 498-1866	249	16	15.5	38.6%	209 (83.9%)	2 (0.8%)	30 (12.0%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	86	176^th of 1368 public middle schools	87.1%		93.2	81^st of 1363 public middle schools	94.1%	95	62.7	41.5	83.1	80.0	78.5	83.8	81.4	79.7	69.6	70.8	48.5	66.5	91.2	92.9	92.9	92.9	90.3	91.2	69.3		49.2	$16,205	$275	$15,931
Rochelle Middle School	Public	6-8	111 School Ave	Rochelle	61068	Ogle County	Rochelle CCSD 231	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 562-7997	488	39	12.5	49.2%	206 (42.2%)	10 (2.0%)	251 (51.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.1%)	44.4	708^th of 1368 public middle schools	48.2%		39.3	758^th of 1363 public middle schools	44.4%	50		34.1		44.4	61.3	55.1	53.6		16.8	32.7	18.4	22.9	99.3	99.8	99.8	99.8	99.6	99.8	99.8		92.9	$14,212	$1,168	$13,044
Amboy Junior High School	Public	5-8	240 N Metcalf Ave	Amboy	61310	Lee County	Amboy CUSD 272	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 857-3528	210	18	12.0	47.1%	185 (88.1%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	45.9	680^th of 1368 public middle schools	50.3%		37.7	783^rd of 1363 public middle schools	42.6%	103	42.1	18.6	52.6	50.9	42.9	55.8	50.5	42.1	37.7	42.9	16.3	35.6	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0		100.0	$16,483	$308	$16,175
Sandwich Middle School	Public	6-8	600 S Wells St	Sandwich	60548	DeKalb County	Sandwich CUSD 430	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 786-2138	420	32	13.0	51.2%	307 (73.1%)	2 (0.5%)	94 (22.4%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.1%)	54.6	564^th of 1368 public middle schools	58.8%		54.1	539^th of 1363 public middle schools	60.5%	25		55.1		55.0	48.8	50.0	51.2		44.5	30.2	19.9	30.8	97.5	98.4	98.4	98.4	99.1	98.6	97.9		97.5	$16,429	$727	$15,703
Serena Middle School	Public	5-8	2283 N 3812th Rd	Serena	60549	LaSalle County	Serena CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 496-9250	184	15	11.9	44.6%	154 (83.7%)	1 (0.5%)	24 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	44.6	701^st of 1368 public middle schools	48.8%		45.8	659^th of 1363 public middle schools	51.7%	42	33.3	36.2	78.4	52.0	62.5	27.1	51.1	67.6	24.0	43.8	13.6	33.1	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.5		71.4	$22,056	$2,665	$19,391
Huntley Middle School	Public	6-8	1515 S 4th St	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2241	865	73	11.8	63.8%	302 (34.9%)	231 (26.7%)	255 (29.5%)	11 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (7.4%)	20.3	1107^th of 1368 public middle schools	19.1%		24.9	1005^th of 1363 public middle schools	26.3%	102		25.7		29.1	17.6	20.4	22.3		21.2	18.7	13.6	17.8	98.3	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.6	98.5	98.8		94.6	$19,373	$1,225	$18,147

Frequently Asked Questions about Paw Paw Junior High School

How many students attend Paw Paw Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 42 students attended Paw Paw Junior High School.

What district is Paw Paw Junior High School in?

Paw Paw CUSD 271

What is the racial makeup of Paw Paw Junior High School?

Students at Paw Paw Junior High School are 83% White, 14% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Is Paw Paw Junior High School a good school?

Paw Paw Junior High School ranks 662^nd of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Paw Paw Junior High 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.