Photo: Anonymous · CC BY-SA 4.0Downers Grove’s public schools outscore 86% of Illinois districts
Math proficiency in Downers Grove’s districts is 46%, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Downers Grove, 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.
Downers Grove’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 45% and math 46% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Community High School District 99 spends $28,322 per student and Downers Grove Grade School District 58 $21,709, 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 Downers Grove’s grade
A: better than 86% of Illinois school districts, #109 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Downers Grove, with each school’s own grade.
7th grade in Downers Grove · depends on your address
Herrick Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 626 students · 16:1 students per teacher
O Neill Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 403 students · 14:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Downers Grove · depends on your address
Herrick Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 626 students · 16:1 students per teacher
O Neill Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 403 students · 14:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Downers Grove · depends on your address
Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,591 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S
Grades 9–12 · 2,082 students · 14:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Downers Grove · depends on your address
Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,591 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S
Grades 9–12 · 2,082 students · 14:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Downers Grove · depends on your address
Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,591 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S
Grades 9–12 · 2,082 students · 14:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Downers Grove · depends on your address
Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,591 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S
Grades 9–12 · 2,082 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Downers Grove runs its own schools through grade 8 (Downers Grove Grade School District 58). From grade 9, students attend the Community High School District 99, shared with Bolingbrook, Darien, Downers Grove, Lisle, Lisle, Westmont and Woodridge. Its school is in Downers Grove. Parts of Downers Grove (4%, 2%, 2% and 2% of its land) are served by Glenbard Township High School District 87, Darien School District 61, Lombard School District 44 and Woodridge School District 68 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Downers Grove
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Downers Grove vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Downers Grove’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Downers Grove | A | Downers Grove Grade School District 58 PK–8 · Community High School District 99 9–12 |
| Westmont | A | Westmont Community Unit School District 201 PK–12 · Maercker School District 60 PK–8 · Community High School District 99 9–12 |
| Darien | A | Darien School District 61 PK–8 · Cass School District 63 PK–8 · Center Cass School District 66 PK–8 |
| Woodridge | A− | Woodridge School District 68 PK–8 · Community High School District 99 9–12 |
| Lisle | A | Lisle Community Unit School District 202 PK–12 · Naperville Community Unit District 203 PK–12 · Community High School District 99 9–12 |
| Lombard | B+ | Lombard School District 44 PK–8 · SD 45 DuPage County PK–8 · Glenbard Township High School District 87 9–12 |
| Lisle Township | A | Naperville Community Unit District 203 PK–12 · Woodridge School District 68 PK–8 · Community High School District 99 9–12 |
| Downers Grove Township | A | Downers Grove Grade School District 58 PK–8 · Hinsdale Township High School District 86 9–12 · Community High School District 99 9–12 |
| Oak Brook | A+ | Butler School District 53 PK–8 · Hinsdale Township High School District 86 9–12 |
6 of the 8 neighbors share Community High School District 99 with Downers Grove for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Downers Grove
15 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 Downers Grove’s schools
Are Downers Grove’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Downers Grove children attend outscore 86% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #109 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Downers Grove in?
Two districts: Downers Grove Grade School District 58 runs grades PK–8, and Community High School District 99 runs grades 9–12, shared with Bolingbrook, Darien, Downers Grove, Lisle, Lisle, Westmont and Woodridge.
Where do Downers Grove kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch and Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S.
What is Downers Grove’s graduation rate?
93% of the class of 2023 in Community High School District 99 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Downers Grove spend per student?
$28,322 in Community High School District 99 and $21,709 in Downers Grove Grade School District 58 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Downers Grove families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Downers Grove → 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.