Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0Bloomington’s public schools outscore 57% of Illinois districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bloomington, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.
From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Bloomington’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1475 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bloomington’s, its schools beat 62%, higher than their 57% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in math, below in reading
Reading proficiency is 27% and math 26% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
McLean County Unit School District 5 spends $16,899 per student and Bloomington School District 87 $19,416, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Bloomington’s grade
B: better than 57% of Illinois school districts, #400 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bloomington, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Bloomington · depends on your address
Normal Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Normal Community West High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,590 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Bloomington High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,369 students · 14:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Bloomington · depends on your address
Normal Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Normal Community West High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,590 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Bloomington High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,369 students · 14:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Bloomington · depends on your address
Normal Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Normal Community West High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,590 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Bloomington High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,369 students · 14:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Bloomington · depends on your address
Normal Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Normal Community West High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,590 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Normal
Bloomington High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,369 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Bloomington runs its own schools through grade 12 (McLean County Unit School District 5). From grade PK, students attend the Bloomington School District 87, shared with Bloomington City. Its elementary school is in Bloomington. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Bloomington
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Below the state in reading
Bloomington vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Bloomington’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | B | McLean County Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Bloomington School District 87 PK–12 |
| Bloomington City | B | McLean County Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Bloomington School District 87 PK–12 |
| Bloomington Township | B+ | McLean County Unit School District 5 |
| Old Town | B+ | Tri-Valley Community Unit School District 3 PK–12 · McLean County Unit School District 5 PK–12 |
| Normal | — | McLean County Unit School District 5 |
| Normal (town) | B+ | McLean County Unit School District 5 |
| Dale | B+ | Olympia Community Unit School District 16 |
| Dry Grove | B+ | McLean County Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Olympia Community Unit School District 16 PK–12 |
| Towanda | B+ | McLean County Unit School District 5 |
7 of the 8 neighbors share McLean County Unit School District 5 with Bloomington for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Bloomington
30 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Bloomington’s schools
Are Bloomington’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Bloomington children attend outscore 57% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #400 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 62%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Bloomington in?
Two districts: McLean County Unit School District 5 runs grades PK–12, and Bloomington School District 87 runs grades PK–12, shared with Bloomington City.
Where do Bloomington kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Normal Community High School, Normal Community West High School and Bloomington High School.
What is Bloomington’s graduation rate?
91% of the class of 2023 in McLean County Unit School District 5 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Bloomington spend per student?
$16,899 in McLean County Unit School District 5 and $19,416 in Bloomington School District 87 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Bloomington families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bloomington → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.