Top Rankings
Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 12 public schools serving 6,719 students in Dekalb Community Unit School District 428. This district's average testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 have an average math proficiency score of 13% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 16% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
12 Schools
4,395 Schools
# Students
6,719 Students
1,881,779 Students
# Teachers
467 Teachers
136,648 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Dekalb Community Unit School District 428, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 864 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 79% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#743 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
13%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
16%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
50%
Graduation Rate
79%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.72
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
31%
28%
% Black
28%
16%
% White
33%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,272 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,990. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,438 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$130 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$117 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,272
$21,990
Spending / Student
$17,438
$21,244
Best Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 Public Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
211 Mccormick Dr
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2263
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2263
Gr: K-5 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #22.
Malta Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5068 Il Route 38
Malta, IL 60150
(815) 754-2970
Malta, IL 60150
(815) 754-2970
Gr: K-5 | 287 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #33.
Dekalb High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
501 W Dresser Rd
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2100
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2100
Gr: 9-12 | 2,070 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #44.
Littlejohn Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1121 School St
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2258
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2258
Gr: K-5 | 361 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #55.
Huntley Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1515 S 4th St
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2241
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2241
Gr: 6-8 | 891 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #66.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
220 E Sunset Pl
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2212
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2212
Gr: K-5 | 267 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #77.
Clinton Rosette Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
650 N 1st St
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2226
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2226
Gr: 6-8 | 582 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Cortland Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 9%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
370 E Lexington Ave
Cortland, IL 60112
(815) 754-2360
Cortland, IL 60112
(815) 754-2360
Gr: K-5 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Founders Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 9%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
821 S 7th St
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-3800
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-3800
Gr: K-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3225 Sangamon Dr
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-9936
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-9936
Gr: K-5 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Tyler Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1021 Alden Circle
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2389
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2389
Gr: K-5 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: n/an/a
1515 S 4th St
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2999
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 754-2999
Gr: PK | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Dekalb Community Unit School District 428?
Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 manages 12 public schools serving 6,719 students.
What is the rank of Dekalb Community Unit School District 428?
Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 is ranked #748 out of 864 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Dekalb Community Unit School District 428?
33% of Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 students are White, 31% of students are Hispanic, 28% of students are Black, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Dekalb Community Unit School District 428?
Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Dekalb Community Unit School District 428's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,438 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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