For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 1,722 students in Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District have an average math proficiency score of 32% (versus the Illinois public school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 30% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
4,399 Schools
# Students
1,722 Students
1,881,779 Students
# Teachers
145 Teachers
136,665 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 844 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85-89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#303 out of 852 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)32%
28%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
30%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
50%
Graduation Rate
85-89%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.27
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
9%
28%
% Black
1%
16%
% White
85%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,472 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 $17,648 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$35 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$30 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,472
$21,990
Spending / Student
$17,648
$21,244
Best Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Prairie Central Primary West
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-49% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
700 S Division St
Chenoa, IL 61726
(815) 945-2971
Chenoa, IL 61726
(815) 945-2971
Grades: PK-1
| 252 students
Rank: #22.
Prairie Central Upper Elementary School
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
312 N Center St
Forrest, IL 61741
(815) 657-8238
Forrest, IL 61741
(815) 657-8238
Grades: 5-6
| 220 students
Rank: #33.
Prairie Central Jr High School
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
800 N Wood St
Forrest, IL 61741
(815) 657-8660
Forrest, IL 61741
(815) 657-8660
Grades: 7-8
| 232 students
Rank: #44.
Prairie Central Elementary School
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 S 1st St
Fairbury, IL 61739
(815) 692-2623
Fairbury, IL 61739
(815) 692-2623
Grades: 2-4
| 368 students
Rank: #55.
Prairie Central High School
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
411 N 7th St
Fairbury, IL 61739
(815) 692-2355
Fairbury, IL 61739
(815) 692-2355
Grades: 9-12
| 518 students
Rank: #66.
Prairie Central Primary East
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
407 S 4th St
Chatsworth, IL 60921
(815) 635-3555
Chatsworth, IL 60921
(815) 635-3555
Grades: PK-1
| 132 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District?
Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District manages 6 public schools serving 1,722 students.
What is the rank of Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District?
Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District is ranked #295 out of 844 school districts in Illinois (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2020-2021 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District?
85% of Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District students are White, 9% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District?
Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is lower than the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Prairie Central CUSD 8 School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,648 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
