Capital Township’s public schools score below 84% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
On-time graduation in Capital Township runs at 62%, below the Illinois average (88%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Capital Township, 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.
Capital Township’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 24% of tested students were proficient in reading and 22% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
62% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Springfield School District 186 spends $24,521 per student and Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 $11,190, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Springfield Ball Charter School, Christ the King Elementary School (private), Christ the King (private), Sacred Heart Griffin High School (private), Blessed Sacrament (private), Springfield Christian School (private), Little Flower Catholic School (private), Calvary Academy (private), Trinty (private), Our Savior's Lutheran School (private), St. Agnes Elementary School (private), St. Aloysius Elementary School (private), Lutheran High School (private) and St. Patrick Catholic School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
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 Capital Township’s grade
C−: better than 16% of Illinois school districts, #673 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Capital Township, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Capital Township · depends on your address
Early Learning Center
Grades PK · 549 students · 20:1 students per teacher · in Springfield
Ridgely Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 343 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Springfield
Capital Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Springfield School District 186). From grade PK, students attend the Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5, shared with Ball, Chatham, Chatham, Cotton Hill, Springfield and Woodside. Parts of Capital Township (3% and 3% of its land) are served by New Berlin CUSD 16 and Riverton Community Unit School District 14 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Capital Township
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Capital Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Capital Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Township | C− | Springfield School District 186 PK–12 · Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 |
| Springfield | C− | Springfield School District 186 PK–12 · Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 |
| Springfield Township | D− | Springfield School District 186 |
| Ball | A− | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 |
| Curran | B− | New Berlin CUSD 16 |
| Gardner | B | Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8 |
| Woodside | C− | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Springfield School District 186 PK–12 |
| Rochester | B | Rochester Community Unit School District 3A |
| Clear Lake | C | Riverton Community Unit School District 14 PK–12 · Tri-City Community Unit School District 1 PK–12 |
| Chatham | A− | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 |
| Southern View | D− | Springfield School District 186 |
| Sherman | A | Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 |
| Fancy Creek | A− | Athens Community Unit School District 213 PK–12 · Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 PK–12 |
| Cotton Hill | — | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Pawnee Community Unit School District 11 PK–12 |
| Chatham Township | B+ | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Auburn Community Unit School District 10 PK–12 |
6 of the 14 neighbors share Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 with Capital Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Capital Township
40 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).
Left off: 8 public programs with fewer than 25 students (SASED Central-Proj Ican & Pace, Sangamon County Learning Academy, Sangamon Safe School Program, Project Impact, Capital Area Career Center, Douglas School, Sangamon Co Detention Center and Springfield Learning Academy). 1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about Capital Township’s schools
Are Capital Township’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Capital Township children attend score below 84% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #673 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 12%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Capital Township in?
Two districts: Springfield School District 186 runs grades PK–12, and Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 runs grades PK–12, shared with Ball, Chatham, Chatham, Cotton Hill, Springfield and Woodside.
Where do Capital Township kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Springfield High School, Springfield Southeast High Sch, Lanphier High School and Edwin A Lee Elementary School.
What is Capital Township’s graduation rate?
62% of the class of 2023 in Springfield School District 186 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Capital Township spend per student?
$24,521 in Springfield School District 186 and $11,190 in Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Capital Township?
Yes: Christ the King Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 535 students), Christ the King (Catholic, grades PK–8, 531 students), Sacred Heart Griffin High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 526 students), Blessed Sacrament (Catholic, grades PK–8, 419 students), Springfield Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 396 students), Little Flower Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 305 students), Calvary Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 302 students), Trinty (religious, grades PK–8, 214 students), Our Savior's Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 198 students), St. Agnes Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 194 students), St. Aloysius Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 120 students), Lutheran High School (religious, grades 9–12, 115 students) and St. Patrick Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 63 students). Capital Township also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Capital Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Capital Township → 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.