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Pontiac Junior High School

Q: Is Pontiac Junior High School a good school?

Pontiac Junior High School ranks 985 th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

985^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 28% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Pontiac Junior High School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Pontiac, Illinois, with 324 students. The school is part of the Pontiac CCSD 429 district, which is ranked 699 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pontiac Junior High School consistently performs below the state average in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exams. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 40.2% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 53.1%. In Mathematics, the proficiency rate was just 12.9%, compared to the state average of 38.5%. The school also has high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 25.4% to 31.3% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average.

When comparing Pontiac Junior High School to nearby schools, such as Lexington Junior High School and EPG Middle School, the performance gap is quite significant. For instance, in the 2024-2025 school year, Lexington Junior High School had an 81.8% proficiency rate in ELA, compared to Pontiac's 40.2%. Similarly, EPG Middle School had a 62.1% proficiency rate in ELA, outperforming Pontiac by a wide margin. Pontiac Junior High School's performance has also been declining over the past several years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 724 out of 1,293 Illinois middle schools in 2017-2018 to 985 out of 1,368 in 2024-2025.

326

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,884

Per pupil spending ?

50%

Free/discounted lunch ?

600 N Morrow St
Pontiac, IL 61764-1451

(815) 842-4343

District: Pontiac CCSD 429

Students who attend Pontiac Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Pontiac High School

Feeder schools for Pontiac Junior High School:

Elementary:	Central Elementary School
	Lincoln Elementary School
	Washington Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.5%

Hispanic:

13.5%

African American:

7.7%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Pontiac Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 18th percentile in 2022 → 28th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 28th (2025) from a 18th-percentile low (2022)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (27% vs 46% meeting standards)

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

!Mathematics scores 26 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school27%

District avg29%

Illinois avg46%

985^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 35% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

699^th of 811Pontiac CCSD 429 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	26.7	985 of 1368	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.6	965 of 1363	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	1039 of 1367	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	1128 of 1369	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.4	998 of 1241	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.8	911 of 1356	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.2	724 of 1293	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	35.4	814 of 1293	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.7	659 of 1294	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.3	843 of 1302	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.3	830 of 1322	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	60.3	543 of 1367	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.7	419 of 1365	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.6	486 of 1344	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	76.2	289 of 1327	78.2%	★★★★☆
2009	72.3	369 of 1318	72.0%	★★★★☆
2008	70.5	406 of 1293	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	46.9	810 of 1287	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	45.7	806 of 1272	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	50.6	710 of 1209	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	55.6	623 of 1204	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2003	54.2	614 of 1185	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.9	619 of 694	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.2	508 of 639	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.2	497 of 674	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	27.6	906 of 1248	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.5	889 of 1251	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.5	956 of 1275	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.1	1059 of 1286	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	892 of 1017	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.0	939 of 1276	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.2	768 of 1226	37.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.5	625 of 669	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	569 of 643	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.1	532 of 661	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.8	572 of 662	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.5	387 of 517	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.3	599 of 639	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.7	1037 of 1229	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.1	1025 of 1219	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.1	986 of 1234	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.5	947 of 1221	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.5	839 of 1019	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.2	884 of 1217	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.0	714 of 1161	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.5	927 of 1271	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.9	908 of 1264	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	1011 of 1292	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	1073 of 1286	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.9	844 of 1048	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.2	782 of 1296	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.9	616 of 1223	49.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	693 of 812	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.6	672 of 802	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.1	694 of 805	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.7	510 of 781	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.6	501 of 548	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	34.0	481 of 792	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.8	350 of 602	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.6	811 of 884	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.3	788 of 875	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.2	849 of 895	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.1	875 of 898	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.1	777 of 813	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.3	824 of 905	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	729 of 889	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)27th percentile~ school

Male (2025)27th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)16th percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2025)15th percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2025)11th percentile-17 vs school

White (2025)8th percentile-20 vs school

Hispanic (2025)7th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts40%-13 vs state

Science26%-19 vs state

Mathematics13%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pontiac 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)	% 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pontiac Junior High School	Public	6-8	600 N Morrow St	Pontiac	61764	Livingston County	Pontiac CCSD 429	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 842-4343	326	29	11.3	50.0%	233 (71.5%)	25 (7.7%)	44 (13.5%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.4%)	26.7	985^th of 1368 public middle schools	28.0%		26.6	965^th of 1363 public middle schools	29.2%	20		26.5		26.4	57.0	35.4	40.2		14.4	18.7	6.2	12.9	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.1	99.4	99.4	96.6	$17,884	$990	$16,895
Prairie Central Junior High School	Public	7-8	800 N Wood St	Forrest	61741	Livingston County	Prairie Central CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 657-8660	250	21	12.1	52.4%	208 (83.2%)	1 (0.4%)	26 (10.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.8%)	55.8	540^th of 1368 public middle schools	60.5%		47.8	618^th of 1363 public middle schools	54.7%	78		54.0			63.0	60.9	62.0			20.0	24.3	22.0	98.3	97.5	97.5	97.5	98.3	97.5	98.3	97.5	$14,590	$313	$14,277
Prairie Central Upper Elementary	Public	5-6	312 N Center St	Forrest	61741	Livingston County	Prairie Central CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 657-8238	216	18	11.7	44.0%	189 (87.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)								(n/a)	42.4		61.9	82.6			70.3	50.0	48.8			49.5	98.7	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	97.3	98.2	56.8	$14,893	$337	$14,557
EPG Middle School	Public	5-8	403 McLean St	Gridley	61744	McLean County	El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 747-2156	345	26	13.3	34.8%	306 (88.7%)	8 (2.3%)	16 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.3%)	70.6	351^st of 1368 public middle schools	74.3%		64.3	403^rd of 1363 public middle schools	70.4%	52	64.9	56.4	75.3	51.3	55.0	66.0	62.1	28.6	37.2	56.3	48.0	43.0	98.0	98.0	98.0	98.0	99.0	97.5	98.2	76.3	$13,522	$102	$13,420
Lexington Junior High School	Public	6-8	100 E Wall St	Lexington	61753	McLean County	Lexington CUSD 7	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 365-2711	110	7	16.2	15.5%	101 (91.8%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.6%)	82.9	209^th of 1368 public middle schools	84.7%		69.9	346^th of 1363 public middle schools	74.6%	137		78.4		82.4	84.2	78.9	81.8		26.5	63.2	39.5	43.6	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	$12,431	$121	$12,310

Frequently Asked Questions about Pontiac Junior High School

What is the racial makeup of Pontiac Junior High School?

Students at Pontiac Junior High School are 71% White, 13% Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Is Pontiac Junior High School a good school?

Pontiac Junior High School ranks 985^th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Pontiac Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 326 students attended Pontiac Junior High School.

What high school do graduates of Pontiac Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Pontiac Junior High School usually go on to attend Pontiac High School

What district is Pontiac Junior High School in?

Pontiac CCSD 429

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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.