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South Prairie Elementary School

Q: Is South Prairie Elementary School a good school?

South Prairie Elementary School ranks 886 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

886^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 57% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

South Prairie Elementary School is a public elementary school in Sycamore, Illinois, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 367 students. The school is part of the Sycamore CUSD 427 district, which is ranked 288 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While South Prairie Elementary School has consistently ranked in the middle to lower range of Illinois elementary schools, its performance on state assessments (IAR and ISA) is generally below the district and state averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 46.7% of students were proficient or better in ELA and Math, compared to 54.6% and 44.4% for the district, respectively. The school's performance on these assessments has been declining over the past few years, with proficiency rates dropping from the mid-30s in 2020-2021 to the low 20s in 2023-2024.

Interestingly, North Grove Elementary and North Elementary, two other schools within the Sycamore CUSD 427 district, generally outperform South Prairie Elementary School on state assessments and have lower chronic absenteeism rates. Additionally, South Prairie Elementary School has seen a significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 18.8% in 2021-2022 to 36.24% in 2023-2024, suggesting a growing population of economically disadvantaged students.

456

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,822

Per pupil spending ?

34.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

820 Borden Ave
Sycamore, IL 60178-3270

(815) 899-8299

District: Sycamore CUSD 427

Students who attend South Prairie Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Sycamore Middle School
High:	Sycamore High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.1%

Hispanic:

16.4%

African American:

5.7%

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Compare South Prairie Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 60th percentile in 2015 → 57th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Illinois median (57th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Sycamore CUSD 427's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg50%

Illinois avg44%

886^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 43%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Sycamore CUSD 427

288^th of 811Sycamore CUSD 427 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	56.1	886 of 2056	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.7	945 of 2067	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.6	769 of 2077	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.4	711 of 2082	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.3	1030 of 1948	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.1	902 of 2086	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.7	1105 of 2037	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	56.0	833 of 2044	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.5	687 of 2046	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	53.6	827 of 2052	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.4	1120 of 2093	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.0	1248 of 2167	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	56.8	1116 of 2166	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	51.4	1249 of 2147	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	56.7	1128 of 2139	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	63.2	957 of 2120	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.0	1009 of 2092	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.5	961 of 2095	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	68.3	770 of 2086	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	71.2	632 of 2022	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	75.4	505 of 2030	75.1%	★★★★☆
2003	76.9	467 of 2020	76.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	62.9	692 of 1942	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.7	851 of 1942	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.7	712 of 1957	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.6	699 of 1970	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.2	855 of 1680	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.0	997 of 2019	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.1	1135 of 1964	42.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	67.7	237 of 982	75.9%	★★★★☆
2024	34.3	641 of 959	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	65.8	484 of 1800	73.1%	★★★★☆
2024	56.3	647 of 1793	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.0	517 of 1808	71.4%	★★★★☆
2021	43.3	782 of 1514	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.5	1553 of 1816	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	47.3	1001 of 1947	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.8	933 of 1959	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.2	786 of 1984	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.5	694 of 1977	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.2	1060 of 1707	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.2	798 of 2019	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.9	976 of 1972	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	64.8	350 of 1292	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	67.9	271 of 1195	77.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.1	865 of 1389	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	911 of 1392	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.4	813 of 1419	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.4	761 of 1425	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.3	1018 of 1308	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.5	875 of 1462	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.1	911 of 1463	37.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)76th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)73rd percentile+16 vs school

Special Education (2025)73rd percentile+16 vs school

Female (2025)64th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)49th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)38th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science49%+9 vs state

English Language Arts47%-6 vs state

Mathematics47%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Prairie 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)	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	% Pneumococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Prairie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Borden Ave	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8299	456	28	16.5	34.4%	324 (71.1%)	26 (5.7%)	75 (16.4%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.5%)	56.1	886^th of 2056 public elementary schools	56.9%		49.7	945^th of 2067 public elementary schools	54.3%	59	49.2	48.9	45.8	45.8	46.7	42.6	42.4	54.2	46.7	98.4	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.6	98.2	98.2	29.4	$13,822	$882	$12,940
West Elementary School	Public	K-5	718 S Locust St	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8219	270	24	11.2	60.0%	176 (65.2%)	15 (5.6%)	57 (21.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.4%)	59.9	812^th of 2056 public elementary schools	60.5%		42.9	1095^th of 2067 public elementary schools	47.0%	283	40.0	52.3	52.9	60.0	55.3	61.4	38.2	37.8	46.3	95.2	95.6	95.6	95.6		95.2	94.4		$16,190	$285	$15,905
Southeast Elementary School	Public	K-5	718 S Locust St	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8219	300	24	12.3	30.7%	230 (76.7%)	8 (2.7%)	43 (14.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (5.0%)	69.2	618^th of 2056 public elementary schools	69.9%		61.7	707^th of 2067 public elementary schools	65.8%	89	56.8	72.5	47.6	50.0	56.3	72.5	52.4	38.6	55.1	96.0	94.6	94.6	94.6	27.5	94.6	95.3		$15,227	$280	$14,947
North Elementary School	Public	K-5	1680 Brickville Rd	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8209	309	21	15.0	19.1%	247 (79.9%)	11 (3.6%)	26 (8.4%)	8 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.5%)	66.3	684^th of 2056 public elementary schools	66.7%		79.1	386^th of 2067 public elementary schools	81.3%	298	50.9	47.6	61.5	58.2	54.8	55.6	46.2	49.1	51.0	95.5	95.2	95.2	95.2		95.2	95.2		$12,998	$252	$12,746
Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School	Public	K-5	3225 Sangamon Dr	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-9936	328	23	13.9	80.2%	53 (16.2%)	182 (55.5%)	48 (14.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (13.1%)	11	1911^th of 2056 public elementary schools	7.1%		13.3	1931^st of 2067 public elementary schools	6.6%	20	13.7	6.0	17.8	29.4	17.8	10.0	12.3	13.7	12.1	98.2	97.9	97.9	97.9	99.7	97.9	97.9		$19,757	$1,506	$18,251
Littlejohn Elementary School	Public	K-5	1121 School St	DeKalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2258	362	24	14.9	70.7%	98 (27.1%)	51 (14.1%)	184 (50.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.7%)	26.4	1528^th of 2056 public elementary schools	25.7%		22.7	1600^th of 2067 public elementary schools	22.6%	72	20.6	31.0	35.2	27.1	30.8	39.0	29.6	20.0	29.0	98.1	98.3	98.3	98.3		96.1	97.5		$19,282	$1,674	$17,608
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	211 McCormick Dr	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2263	308	28	11.1	56.8%	111 (36.0%)	95 (30.8%)	56 (18.2%)	21 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.1%)	56.1	885^th of 2056 public elementary schools	57.0%		55.4	814^th of 2067 public elementary schools	60.6%	71	39.6	40.9	40.4	58.3	46.0	42.4	53.2	56.3	49.7	96.5	96.2	96.2	96.2	98.1	95.0	96.5		$21,393	$1,449	$19,944
North Grove Elementary School	Public	K-5	850 Republic Ave	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8124	377	31	12.0	8.2%	318 (84.4%)	9 (2.4%)	17 (4.5%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	78.5	421^st of 2056 public elementary schools	79.5%		61.1	712^th of 2067 public elementary schools	65.6%	291	56.7	61.0	58.6	71.6	63.5	68.3	55.7	55.2	60.3	96.3	96.7	96.7	96.7		96.5	96.7		$14,074	$267	$13,807
Founders Elementary School	Public	K-5	821 S 7th St	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-3800	565	39	14.5	78.1%	103 (18.2%)	167 (29.6%)	248 (43.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (7.6%)	17.5	1729^th of 2056 public elementary schools	15.9%		20.5	1665^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.4%	64	16.3	23.3	34.2	15.2	23.7	24.4	26.6	9.9	19.9	97.3	97.1	97.1	97.1	32.1	95.8	97.1		$18,460	$1,482	$16,977
Cortland Elementary School	Public	K-5	370 E Lexington Ave	Cortland	60112	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2360	523	40	13.0	62.1%	195 (37.3%)	61 (11.7%)	221 (42.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.6%)	23.6	1588^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.8%		20.5	1667^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.4%	79	30.3	29.3	24.4	33.3	28.9	24.0	19.5	25.3	22.8	97.3	97.7	97.7	97.7		96.5	96.1		$20,673	$1,871	$18,802

Frequently Asked Questions about South Prairie Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of South Prairie Elementary School?

Students at South Prairie Elementary School are 71% White, 16% Hispanic, 6% African American, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend South Prairie Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 456 students attended South Prairie Elementary School.

Is South Prairie Elementary School a good school?

South Prairie Elementary School ranks 886^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of South Prairie Elementary School attend?

Students who attend South Prairie Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sycamore Middle School
High : Sycamore High School

What district is South Prairie Elementary School in?

Sycamore CUSD 427

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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.