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Towanda Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

98^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 95% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Towanda Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 198 students in grades K-5 in Towanda, Illinois, which is part of the McLean County Unified School District 5. This school consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic achievement, making it one of the top-performing elementary schools in the area.

Towanda Elementary School's academic performance is particularly impressive, with 84.6% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 70.3% proficient or better in Mathematics in the 2024-2025 school year, significantly higher than the district and state averages. The school also excels in the performance of specific student subgroups, ranking 42nd out of 1,942 Illinois elementary schools for female students and 128th out of 1,947 for male students in English Language Arts. While the school has seen some fluctuations in chronic absenteeism rates, its latest rate of 25.4% is still lower than the district average.

When compared to nearby schools, Towanda Elementary School stands out as a top performer. For example, Grove Elementary School, which is only 2.95 miles away, also performs exceptionally well, ranking 197th out of 2,056 Illinois elementary schools in the 2024-2025 school year. The relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Towanda Elementary School may be a contributing factor to its high academic performance, though factors beyond just the district-level resources and policies, such as the performance of Thomas Metcalf School, which is part of the ISU Laboratory Schools district, may also be influencing student achievement.

193

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,552

Per pupil spending ?

11.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

304 S East St
Towanda, IL 61776-7661

(309) 728-2278

District: McLean County Unified School District 5

Students who attend Towanda Elementary School usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.7%

Asian:

12.4%

Two or more races:

5.2%

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Compare Towanda Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 66th percentile in 2015 → 95th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (80% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of Illinois elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school80%

District avg47%

Illinois avg44%

98^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 30 pts since 2015

From top 34% (2015) to top 5% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st 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	93.6	98 of 2056	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	80.4	352 of 2067	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	89.2	197 of 2077	90.5%	★★★★★
2022	84.1	296 of 2082	85.8%	★★★★☆
2021	69.9	505 of 1948	74.1%	★★★★☆
2019	89.8	162 of 2086	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	68.5	589 of 2037	71.1%	★★★★☆
2017	86.3	234 of 2044	88.6%	★★★★☆
2016	74.3	474 of 2046	76.8%	★★★★☆
2015	60.5	707 of 2052	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	81.6	355 of 2093	83.0%	★★★★☆
2013	73.3	573 of 2167	73.6%	★★★★☆
2012	69.6	745 of 2166	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	72.8	613 of 2147	71.4%	★★★★☆
2010	75.6	538 of 2139	74.8%	★★★★☆
2009	75.6	536 of 2120	74.7%	★★★★☆
2008	78.6	393 of 2092	81.2%	★★★★☆
2007	82.2	204 of 2095	90.3%	★★★★★
2006	79.1	343 of 2086	83.6%	★★★★☆
2005	78.7	352 of 2022	82.6%	★★★★☆
2004	77.2	431 of 2030	78.8%	★★★★☆
2003	73.1	611 of 2020	69.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	95.0	42 of 1942	97.8%	★★★★★
2024	75.4	405 of 1942	79.1%	★★★★☆
2023	92.6	113 of 1957	94.2%	★★★★★
2022	85.2	247 of 1970	87.5%	★★★★☆
2021	79.8	266 of 1680	84.2%	★★★★☆
2019	88.6	172 of 2019	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	71.7	501 of 1964	74.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	91.0	128 of 1947	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	79.3	349 of 1959	82.2%	★★★★☆
2023	81.7	293 of 1984	85.2%	★★★★☆
2022	80.7	322 of 1977	83.7%	★★★★☆
2021	55.5	629 of 1707	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	88.7	163 of 2019	91.9%	★★★★★
2018	62.8	657 of 1972	66.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	84.6	149 of 1389	89.3%	★★★★☆
2024	66.7	405 of 1392	70.9%	★★★★☆
2023	74.5	283 of 1419	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	68.8	380 of 1425	73.3%	★★★★☆
2021	55.6	537 of 1308	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.2	271 of 1462	81.5%	★★★★☆
2018	46.6	782 of 1463	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)98th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)93rd percentile~ school

White (2025)89th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science86%+45 vs state

English Language Arts85%+32 vs state

Mathematics70%+32 vs state

★

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Schools Near Towanda 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)	% 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 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	% 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
Towanda Elementary School	Public	K-5	304 S East St	Towanda	61776	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 728-2278	193	13	14.4	11.9%	148 (76.7%)	3 (1.6%)	8 (4.1%)	24 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.2%)	93.6	98^th of 2056 public elementary schools	95.2%		80.4	352^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	83.0%	254	85.7		80.6	80.0	91.4				84.6	77.4	76.0	60.0				70.3	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0			$13,552	$556	$12,996
Grove Elementary School	Public	K-5	1101 Airport Rd	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4417	519	29	17.6	14.6%	280 (53.9%)	34 (6.6%)	31 (6.0%)	127 (24.5%)	10 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (7.1%)	89.2	197^th of 2056 public elementary schools	90.4%		89.8	193^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	90.7%	4	77.2		72.8	73.7	89.1				79.0	69.1	60.6	61.4				63.3	98.4	98.2	98.2	98.2	100.0	98.0	98.4			$11,896	$469	$11,427
Northpoint Elementary School	Public	K-5	2602 E College Ave	Bloomington	61704	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4420	472	31	15.1	11.9%	296 (62.7%)	29 (6.1%)	30 (6.4%)	86 (18.2%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.5%)	71.4	565^th of 2056 public elementary schools	72.5%		75.4	468^th of 2067 public elementary schools	77.4%	97	41.9		64.1	62.5	52.7				59.1	57.7	67.2	51.6				57.9	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	98.6	97.3	97.3			$14,678	$1,038	$13,640
Prairieland Elementary School	Public	K-5	1300 E Raab Rd	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4424	450	29	15.4	22.2%	327 (72.7%)	32 (7.1%)	38 (8.4%)	21 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.1%)	77.7	443^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	78.5%		79.1	385^th of 2067 public elementary schools	81.4%	58	67.1		58.3	60.8	74.4				64.6	50.0	54.4	67.1				57.3	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0			$14,164	$628	$13,537
Sugar Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 N Towanda Ave	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4425	468	25	18.5	60.5%	184 (39.3%)	154 (32.9%)	43 (9.2%)	26 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (12.6%)	38.3	1243^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	39.5%		43.1	1086^th of 2067 public elementary schools	47.5%	157	44.4		23.9	32.4	61.1				37.8	26.1	24.3	36.1				28.6	94.7	96.0	96.0	96.0	97.5	95.7	94.4	45.1		$18,494	$1,411	$17,083
Stevenson Elementary School	Public	K-5	2106 Arrowhead Dr	Bloomington	61704	McLean County	Bloomington School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 663-2351	299	34	8.7	55.5%	96 (32.1%)	105 (35.1%)	47 (15.7%)	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (15.1%)	38.6	1239^th of 2056 public elementary schools	39.7%		22.1	1624^th of 2067 public elementary schools	21.4%	385	23.5		57.4	44.4	27.5				42.8	53.2	33.3	11.8				32.2	97.4	98.9	98.9	98.9	99.2	99.2	98.9			$21,795	$4,626	$17,169
Colene Hoose Elementary School	Public	K-5	600 Grandview Dr	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4414	413	38	10.9	34.1%	213 (51.6%)	34 (8.2%)	51 (12.3%)	67 (16.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (11.1%)	48.5	1026^th of 2056 public elementary schools	50.1%		50.9	914^th of 2067 public elementary schools	55.8%	112	42.3		44.6	36.2	47.9				42.9	47.7	43.5	33.8				41.5	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3		97.1	97.3			$18,246	$1,107	$17,139
Fairview Elementary School	Public	K-5	416 Fairview St	Normal	61761	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 557-4415	280	16	17.0	54.6%	114 (40.7%)	99 (35.4%)	34 (12.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.1%)	46.1	1079^th of 2056 public elementary schools	47.5%		37.7	1208^th of 2067 public elementary schools	41.6%	129	44.2		46.6	51.2	55.8				50.7	35.6	27.9	23.3				29.7	98.8	98.4	98.4	98.4	99.6	98.4	98.4			$15,147	$1,713	$13,434
Hudson Elementary School	Public	K-5	205 S McLean St	Hudson	61748	McLean County	McLean County Unified School District 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 557-4419	216	16	13.4	19.4%	180 (83.3%)	6 (2.8%)	17 (7.9%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.6%)	73.5	519^th of 2056 public elementary schools	74.8%		66.3	622^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	69.9%	103	43.6		63.2	70.0	56.4				63.2	60.5	80.0	41.0				60.7	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0			$14,998	$546	$14,452
Thomas Metcalf School	Public	PK, KG-8	ISU Campus Box 7000	Normal	61790	McLean County	ISU Laboratory Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(309) 438-7621	459	53	8.6	7.0%	324 (70.6%)	15 (3.3%)	47 (10.2%)	40 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.2%)	83	327^th of 2056 public elementary schools	84.1%		86	251^st of 2067 public elementary schools	87.9%	76	72.0	89.8	66.0	81.3	74.0	72.0	66.7	75.0	72.4	53.2	68.1	58.0	40.0	86.3	85.4	65.2	98.0	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.0	98.2	11.1	29.1

Frequently Asked Questions about Towanda Elementary School

What district is Towanda Elementary School in?

McLean County Unified School District 5

Is Towanda Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Towanda Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 98^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools.

How many students attend Towanda Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 193 students attended Towanda Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Towanda Elementary School attend?

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

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

What is the racial makeup of Towanda Elementary School?

Students at Towanda Elementary School are 77% White, 12% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 2% African American.

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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.