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Pepper Ridge Elementary School

Q: Is Pepper Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Pepper Ridge Elementary School ranks 1068 th of 1737 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1068^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,737 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Pepper Ridge Elementary School is a K–5 school in Bloomington, Illinois, serving 287 students in McLean County Unified School District 5. Its strongest story is that it ranks near the top of nearby schools in several academic measures, yet its latest all-grades English and math results remain below state and district levels, and chronic absenteeism is relatively high: 26%, compared with 24% statewide.

English and science are local strengths, while math is a concern. In 2025–2026, about 53% of students were proficient in English, second among 11 nearby schools, behind Washington Elementary School at 55%; however, Pepper Ridge was below the state at 56% and the district at 58%. Fifth-grade science proficiency was 52%, third among nearby schools and 4 points above the state, though 3 points below the district. Math proficiency was 34%, third among the nearby schools but 5 points below the state and 4 below the district. Within grades, fifth-grade math stands out as a weak spot: Pepper Ridge’s 26% was below Washington and Oakland Elementary School.

Results have turned downward after recent gains. English proficiency rose from 43% in 2023–2024 to 54% in 2024–2025, then eased to 53%; math rose to 40% in 2024–2025 before falling to 34%. SchoolDigger’s statewide standing dropped from the 68th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 39th percentile and 2 stars in 2025–2026, though Pepper Ridge remained highest among the five schools in its district. Its 2024–2025 student–teacher ratio was 11.2, the second-lowest among nearby schools, and 53% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking for how effectively the school serves White students was at the 22nd percentile in 2025–2026, below the school’s overall 39th percentile; its ranking for Male Students fell 44 percentile points, from the 74th to the 30th percentile, between 2023–2024 and 2025–2026.

287

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,893

Per pupil spending ?

52.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

98.7%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

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: Declining — 57th percentile in 2016 → 39th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school46%

District avg50%

Illinois avg48%

1,068^th of 1,737

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 15Elementary Schools in the McLean County Unified School District 5

426^th of 738McLean 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
2026	36.7	1068 of 1737	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	39.1	805 of 1286	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	31.0	919 of 1311	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	27.6	898 of 1149	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
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

Disabled (2025)44th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2026)37th percentile~ school

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

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

Male (2026)30th percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)22nd percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts53%-3 vs state

Science52%+4 vs state

Mathematics34%-5 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 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	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	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	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%)	36.7	1068^th of 1737 public elementary schools	38.5%		50.5	997^th of 2056 public elementary schools	51.5%	71	51.7	39.1	60.4	56.9	52.9	41.3	37.3	25.9	34.2	98.7%		$20,893	$1,868	$19,025
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%)	15.2	1495^th of 1737 public elementary schools	13.9%		27.5	1497^th of 2056 public elementary schools	27.2%	2	39.1	26.7	23.4	41.3	30.4	33.3			20.4	97.2%		$22,128	$2,188	$19,940
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%)	6.1	1681^st of 1737 public elementary schools	3.2%		14.7	1796^th of 2056 public elementary schools	12.6%	115	25.4	23.0	27.9	19.1	23.4	21.3	20.6		16.2	98.8%		$16,003	$2,139	$13,864
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%)	17.1	1439^th of 1737 public elementary schools	17.2%		18.3	1712^th of 2056 public elementary schools	16.7%	273	32.7	21.7	48.7	23.3	29.7		36.6		18.9	100%		$20,598	$1,488	$19,110
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%)	11.1	1582^nd of 1737 public elementary schools	8.9%		11.9	1879^th of 2056 public elementary schools	8.6%	297	28.6	31.0	35.0		28.5		20.0		14.5	97%		$21,502	$1,908	$19,594
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%)	24.1	1292^nd of 1737 public elementary schools	25.6%		28.3	1476^th of 2056 public elementary schools	28.2%	184	19.3	33.3	50.9	28.1	37.2	50.0	41.8		34.7	98.3%		$20,097	$1,184	$18,913
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%)	40	1007^th of 1737 public elementary schools	42.0%		67.7	653^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	68.2%	354	51.5	46.8	60.9	55.4	54.6	40.3	39.1	32.3	37.2	98.7%		$15,195	$322	$14,873
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%)	33.1	1135^th of 1737 public elementary schools	34.7%		51.5	975^th of 2056 public elementary schools	52.6%	160	55.1	31.3	55.1	51.4	46.3	27.7	40.0	34.3	34.1	98.1%		$15,741	$904	$14,837
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%)	20	1382^nd of 1737 public elementary schools	20.4%		29.3	1451^st of 2056 public elementary schools	29.4%	69	37.5	35.2	50.0	30.4	39.6	40.7	20.8		22.5	96.6%		$17,758	$1,621	$16,138
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%)	28.6	1207^th of 1737 public elementary schools	30.5%		53	945^th of 2056 public elementary schools	54.0%	262	58.1	26.1	37.8	50.0	37.8	34.8			23.7	97.4%		$15,013	$811	$14,202

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 1068^th of 1737 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Pepper Ridge Elementary School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataOct 30, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2026

2025–26 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 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.