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 2026 school year, there are 10 public elementary schools serving 4,360 students in Dekalb Community Unit School District 428. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Illinois.
Public Elementary Schools in Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 have an average math proficiency score of 13% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 15% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Illinois public elementary school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
12 Schools
3,102 Schools
# Students
6,719 Students
1,187,593 Students
# Teachers
467 Teachers
89,912 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
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
31%
28%
% Black
28%
17%
% 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 $22,423. 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 $21,662. 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
$22,423
Spending / Student
$17,438
$21,662
Best Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 Public Elementary Schools (2026)
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.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #7 - 87. - 8.
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: #7 - 87. - 8.
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: #9 - 109. - 10.
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: #9 - 109. - 10.
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%
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