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Malden Grade School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

Summary

Malden Grade School is a small public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the town of Malden, Illinois, with a student population of just 86 students. Over the past several years, the school has seen a concerning decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 327 out of 2,022 Illinois elementary schools in 2004-2005 to 1,310 out of 2,077 schools in the most recent 2022-2023 school year. Currently rated 2 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger, Malden Grade School faces several challenges that are impacting student outcomes.

One key issue is the school's high chronic absenteeism rate, which has risen from 21.1% in 2020-2021 to 29.8% in 2021-2022, significantly higher than the state average of 18.2%. Academically, Malden Grade School's proficiency rates on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) are projected to be below state averages in 2024-2025, with 31.9% proficiency in ELA and 29.8% in Math, compared to state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%, respectively. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 52.33% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Dalzell Grade School, which has significantly higher proficiency rates in both ELA (68%) and Math (32%) for the 2024-2025 school year, Malden Grade School's academic performance appears to be lagging behind. However, the school's spending per student ($13,217 in 2023-2024) and relatively low student-teacher ratio of 10.2 in 2023-2024 suggest that the challenges it faces may not be solely related to resource allocation. The school's declining statewide ranking over the years indicates the need for a closer examination of its instructional practices and strategies to address the unique needs of its student population.

Students ?

9.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,352

Per pupil spending ?

54.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

95.2%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

350 East St
Malden, IL 61337-0216

(815) 643-2436

District: Malden CCSD 84

Students who attend Malden Grade School usually attend:

High:

Princeton High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.7%

Hispanic:

16.5%

African American:

3.8%

See top rated Illinois public schools

Compare Malden Grade School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 24th percentile in 2019 → 37th in 2023

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 37th (2023) from a 24th-percentile low (2019)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg45%

Illinois avg49%

Not ranked this year

Malden Grade School did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

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
2023	33.4	1310 of 2077	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.6	906 of 2082	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.1	756 of 1948	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.0	1583 of 2086	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	41.6	1460 of 2139	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.9	1340 of 2120	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	74.5	564 of 2092	73.0%	★★★★☆
2007	74.6	508 of 2095	75.8%	★★★★☆
2006	74.6	524 of 2086	74.9%	★★★★☆
2005	79.4	327 of 2022	83.8%	★★★★☆
2004	63.7	876 of 2030	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2003	76.5	482 of 2020	76.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	71.7	298 of 1763	83.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2019	10.4	1393 of 1462	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	45.6	686 of 1368	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.0	497 of 1363	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.8	760 of 1367	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.3	622 of 1369	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.8	479 of 1241	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	58.2	572 of 1367	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	25.1	1109 of 1365	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	46.7	818 of 1344	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	75.4	300 of 1293	76.8%	★★★★☆
2007	66.6	471 of 1287	63.4%	★★★☆☆

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

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)83rd percentile+27 vs school

White (2019)5th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts50%-6 vs state

Mathematics39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Malden 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	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	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Malden Grade School	Public	PK, KG-8	350 East St	Malden	61337	Bureau County	Malden CCSD 84	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 643-2436	79	8	9.8	54.4%	63 (79.7%)	3 (3.8%)	13 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)									50.0							39.1	95.2%		$14,352	$1,800	$12,552
Douglas Elementary School	Public	PK-K	220 E Lasalle St	Princeton	61356	Bureau County	Princeton Education Service District 115	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 872-9741	217	12	18.2	42.4%	176 (81.1%)	3 (1.4%)	22 (10.1%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.5%)								(n/a)																	95.1%		$18,416	$636	$17,781
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	3-4	501 S Euclid Ave	Princeton	61356	Bureau County	Princeton Education Service District 115	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 875-1164	211	17	12.0	45.5%	189 (89.6%)	2 (0.9%)	15 (7.1%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	71.9	434^th of 1737 public elementary schools	75.0%		70.2	599^th of 2056 public elementary schools	70.9%	165			70.7	67.6					69.0	57.4	61.9					59.8	95.7%		$14,979	$636	$14,343
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-3	725 W Putnam St	Princeton	61356	Bureau County	Princeton Education Service District 115	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 875-4417	220	19	11.7	45.0%	190 (86.4%)	5 (2.3%)	18 (8.2%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.8%)								(n/a)																	97.2%		$15,401	$1,189	$14,212
DePue Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	204 Pleasant St	DePue	61322	Bureau County	DePue Unified School District 103	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 447-2121	232	17	13.3	89.2%	19 (8.2%)	2 (0.9%)	208 (89.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)								(n/a)									23.8							14.8	97.9%		$16,648	$865	$15,783
Allen Grade School	Public	K-6	301 Main St	La Moille	61330	Bureau County	La Moille CUSD 303	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 490-7087	96	9	10.1	49.0%	91 (94.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.1%)								(n/a)									40.7							18.6	97.1%		$23,055	$1,583	$21,472
Ladd Community Cons School	Public	PK, KG-8	232 E Cleveland St	Ladd	61329	Bureau County	Ladd CCSD 94	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 894-2363	183	16	11.1	53.0%	135 (73.8%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (19.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.6%)								(n/a)		68.4					83.3	78.9	58.4		75.0					41.6	99.5%		$16,967	$398	$16,569
Ohio Com Cons Grade School	Public	K-8	103 Memorial Street	Ohio	61349	Bureau County	Ohio CCSD 17	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 376-2934	85	13	6.8	52.9%	84 (98.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)								(n/a)									40.4							30.8	100%		$26,202	$1,720	$24,482
John F Kennedy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	999 N Strong Ave	Spring Valley	61362	Bureau County	Spring Valley CCSD 99	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 664-4601	632	49	12.8	60.9%	357 (56.5%)	5 (0.8%)	238 (37.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	27 (4.3%)	14.8	1506^th of 1737 public elementary schools	13.3%		31.1	1408^th of 2056 public elementary schools	31.5%	98	36.8	43.9	34.4	17.4	31.6	39.7	67.7	66.7	42.5	37.7				21.5	17.5	19.1	96.4%		$15,622	$525	$15,098
Dalzell Grade School	Public	K-8	307 Chestnut St	Dalzell	61320	Bureau County	Dalzell School District 98	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 663-8821	45	7	6.5	—	37 (82.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.4%)								(n/a)									42.3								92.5%		$18,809	$704	$18,106

Frequently Asked Questions about Malden Grade School

What district is Malden Grade School in?

Malden CCSD 84

How many students attend Malden Grade School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 79 students attended Malden Grade School.

What schools do graduates of Malden Grade School attend?

Students who attend Malden Grade School usually go on to attend:

High : Princeton High School

What is the racial makeup of Malden Grade School?

Students at Malden Grade School are 80% White, 16% Hispanic, 4% African American.

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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.