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Pepper Ridge Elementary School

Q: Is Pepper Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Pepper Ridge Elementary School ranks 997 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

997^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Pepper Ridge Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bloomington, Illinois, serving 299 students in grades K-5 and part of the McLean County Unified School District 5. The school has shown consistent academic performance, with students scoring above the district and state averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics across multiple grade levels and years.

Pepper Ridge Elementary's strengths include strong performance for its African American and disabled student subgroups, ranking in the top half of Illinois elementary schools in these categories. However, the school's performance for its low socioeconomic status (SES) and white student subgroups has been relatively weaker, with lower rankings compared to other Illinois elementary schools. The school also faces challenges with higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the state average, which may impact its overall academic performance.

When compared to nearby schools, Pepper Ridge Elementary generally outperforms other schools within the same district in academic proficiency, particularly in ELA and Mathematics. However, some schools in the neighboring Bloomington School District 87, such as Washington Elementary and Oakland Elementary, have shown stronger academic performance than Pepper Ridge in certain grade levels and subject areas. The school's resource allocation, with a relatively low student-teacher ratio and increasing per-student spending, suggests a focus on supporting student learning, but there may be opportunities to further optimize resource allocation and target interventions to address specific areas of need.

287

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,097

Per pupil spending ?

52.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2602 Danbury Dr
Bloomington, IL 61705-6506

(309) 557-4423

District: McLean County Unified School District 5

Students who attend Pepper Ridge Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Evans Junior High School
High:	Normal Community West High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.7%

Hispanic:

15.7%

African American:

12.9%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Pepper Ridge Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 50th percentile in 2015 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Illinois median (52nd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!Science scores 12 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg47%

Illinois avg44%

997^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 16Elementary Schools in the McLean County Unified School District 5

432^nd of 811McLean County Unified School District 5 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	50.5	997 of 2056	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.1	661 of 2067	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.8	1267 of 2077	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.2	1056 of 2082	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.9	671 of 1948	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.1	966 of 2086	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.1	946 of 2037	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	47.5	1007 of 2044	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.9	874 of 2046	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	44.2	1027 of 2052	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	75.7	496 of 2093	76.3%	★★★★☆
2013	66.9	748 of 2167	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	75.0	547 of 2166	74.7%	★★★★☆
2011	70.5	717 of 2147	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	66.9	851 of 2139	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	50.0	1277 of 2120	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	55.3	1154 of 2092	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	48.5	1352 of 2095	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	56.8	1150 of 2086	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	55.2	1117 of 2022	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	55.6	1107 of 2030	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2003	52.5	1167 of 2020	42.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	61.1	166 of 684	75.7%	★★★★☆
2018	38.4	392 of 698	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	589 of 1049	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.0	162 of 886	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	29.2	660 of 907	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	49.0	959 of 1942	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.0	818 of 1942	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.0	1228 of 1957	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.1	1064 of 1970	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.0	539 of 1680	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.8	877 of 2019	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.7	798 of 1964	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	37.8	1167 of 1800	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	936 of 1793	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.2	1681 of 1808	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	1402 of 1763	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.5	981 of 1514	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.0	1012 of 1816	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.1	894 of 1765	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	47.2	1002 of 1947	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	70.0	511 of 1959	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	38.3	1140 of 1984	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.1	915 of 1977	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.7	805 of 1707	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.3	940 of 2019	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.8	1036 of 1972	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	32.8	833 of 1292	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.6	377 of 1195	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	23.1	978 of 1156	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	49.0	423 of 1113	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.1	413 of 640	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.9	577 of 1194	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.4	352 of 763	53.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	860 of 1389	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.2	470 of 1392	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	25.1	1134 of 1419	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.7	973 of 1425	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.8	614 of 1308	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.2	945 of 1462	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.0	827 of 1463	43.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2022)76th percentile+26 vs school

Female (2025)51st percentile~ school

Male (2025)49th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2025)44th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)38th percentile-13 vs school

Special Education (2025)36th percentile-16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)35th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts54%~ state avg

Mathematics40%~ state avg

Science29%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pepper Ridge Elementary 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 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)	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pepper Ridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	2602 Danbury Dr	Bloomington	61705	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4423	287	26	11.2	52.6%	177 (61.7%)	37 (12.9%)	45 (15.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (9.1%)	50.5	997^th of 2056 public elementary schools	51.5%		64.1	661^st of 2067 public elementary schools	68.0%	336	28.6	58.0	59.3	41.9	53.7	60.0	38.9	19.0	40.4	98.4	98.7	98.7	98.7	100.0	98.7	98.4	$20,097	$2,240	$17,857
Fox Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	3910 Timberwolf Trl	Bloomington	61705	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4416	292	22	13.2	71.9%	95 (32.5%)	107 (36.6%)	61 (20.9%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (9.2%)	27.5	1497^th of 2056 public elementary schools	27.2%		18.9	1714^th of 2067 public elementary schools	17.1%	217	36.6	24.5	17.0	34.1	24.8	32.7	23.4	31.7	29.2	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6		96.6	96.6	$21,328	$2,773	$18,554
Cedar Ridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	2808 Breezewood Blvd	Bloomington	61704	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4413	418	34	12.3	69.9%	158 (37.8%)	47 (11.2%)	170 (40.7%)	10 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.7%)	14.7	1796^th of 2056 public elementary schools	12.6%		25.8	1518^th of 2067 public elementary schools	26.6%	278	26.4	21.4	18.3	27.8	22.4	17.5	14.8	7.4	13.4	96.8	97.2	97.2	97.2	99.6	94.3	97.0	$14,628	$1,936	$12,692
Irving Elementary School	Public	K-5	602 W Jackson St	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 827-8091	303	26	11.8	76.2%	80 (26.4%)	104 (34.3%)	54 (17.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (21.1%)	18.3	1712^th of 2056 public elementary schools	16.7%		22.2	1617^th of 2067 public elementary schools	21.8%	95	19.6	15.2	37.0	26.8	26.9	10.9	29.6	12.5	17.9	97.7	97.7	97.7	97.7	17.3	98.0	96.7	$17,915	$3,787	$14,128
Sheridan Elementary School	Public	K-5	1403 W Walnut St	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 828-2359	314	28	11.0	82.8%	78 (24.8%)	148 (47.1%)	23 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (20.4%)	11.9	1879^th of 2056 public elementary schools	8.6%		12.4	1960^th of 2067 public elementary schools	5.2%	81	15.7	32.9	5.7	25.5	22.4	20.0	3.8	0.0	9.2	95.8	96.4	96.4	96.4	98.5	96.4	96.1	$18,445	$4,084	$14,361
Bent Elementary School	Public	K-5	904 N Roosevelt Ave	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 828-4315	389	27	14.4	66.8%	90 (23.1%)	56 (14.4%)	201 (51.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (10.5%)	28.3	1476^th of 2056 public elementary schools	28.2%		26.1	1514^th of 2067 public elementary schools	26.8%	38	20.5	44.0	35.7	26.7	35.8	46.0	23.2	11.1	27.2	96.6	96.9	96.9	96.9		95.5	96.1	$18,844	$3,131	$15,714
Washington Elementary School	Public	K-5	1201 E Washington St	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 829-7034	379	23	16.1	40.6%	253 (66.8%)	43 (11.3%)	39 (10.3%)	10 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (9.0%)	67.7	653^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	68.2%		65.4	642^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	68.9%	11	68.9	51.4	46.9	84.4	57.9	47.3	37.5	53.3	45.4	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.0	98.6	$13,452	$1,990	$11,463
Oakland Elementary School	Public	K-5	1605 E Oakland Ave	Bloomington	61701	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 662-4302	446	32	14.1	53.1%	193 (43.3%)	98 (22.0%)	47 (10.5%)	48 (10.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (13.2%)	51.5	975^th of 2056 public elementary schools	52.6%		45.4	1038^th of 2067 public elementary schools	49.8%	63	50.7	40.0	51.3	49.3	46.8	37.3	40.8	38.6	38.9	98.3	98.6	98.6	98.6		98.8	98.3	$14,549	$2,058	$12,491
Oakdale Elementary School	Public	K-5	601 S Adelaide St	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4421	386	28	13.8	65.0%	137 (35.5%)	150 (38.9%)	48 (12.4%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (12.2%)	29.3	1451^st of 2056 public elementary schools	29.4%		22.6	1603^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	22.4%	152	23.3	50.7	26.9	38.3	39.9	43.7	17.3	10.2	25.3	96.8	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	96.3	97.1	$16,930	$2,278	$14,652
Glenn Elementary School	Public	K-5	306 Glenn Ave	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4418	272	16	16.5	49.3%	91 (33.5%)	47 (17.3%)	35 (12.9%)	70 (25.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (9.9%)	53	945^th of 2056 public elementary schools	54.0%		48.8	966^th of 2067 public elementary schools	53.3%	21	45.0	41.7	43.6	66.7	50.9	38.9	43.6	35.0	39.1	96.5	96.5	96.5	96.5		96.9	96.5	$12,744	$706	$12,038

Frequently Asked Questions about Pepper Ridge Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Pepper Ridge Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Pepper Ridge Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Evans Junior High School
High : Normal Community West High School

How many students attend Pepper Ridge Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 287 students attended Pepper Ridge Elementary School.

What district is Pepper Ridge Elementary School in?

McLean County Unified School District 5

What is the racial makeup of Pepper Ridge Elementary School?

Students at Pepper Ridge Elementary School are 62% White, 16% Hispanic, 13% African American, 9% Two or more races.

Is Pepper Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Pepper Ridge Elementary School ranks 997^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Pepper Ridge Elementary School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2025

2024–25 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 30, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataOct 30, 2024

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.