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Fairbury, IL Downtown6Photo: IvoShandor · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Fairbury · Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8

Fairbury’s public schools outscore 52% of Illinois districts

32% of students in Fairbury’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Fairbury, 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.

#434of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
30%
▲ 0 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
32%
▲ 6 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 4–8 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.6K
▼ 23% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.2
IL 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,496 students on the public path
In brief

Fairbury’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1498 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fairbury’s, its schools beat 58%, higher than their 52% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 30% and math 32% in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,593 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 2 the district’s path is Prairie Central Elem School, then Prairie Central Jr High School, then Prairie Central High School. See the path ↓

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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Fairbury’s grade

B+ Test scoresC− Graduation

B−: better than 52% of Illinois school districts, #434 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores are above the Illinois average; graduation is below it.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 52%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1498)Better than 58%
CB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 790 test results and a graduating class of 120 could put Fairbury anywhere from C to B+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Fairbury’s students in the tested grades sat them (787 in math, 794 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fairbury, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–12 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
2–4Prairie Central Elem SchoolPrairie Central Community Unit School District 8B
7–8Prairie Central Jr High Schoolin ForrestB+
9–12Prairie Central High SchoolPrairie Central Community Unit School District 8B−

Fairbury’s public schools are run by Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8Grades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,712 students · 12.2 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$16,593IL $21,567 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2020–21

Close to the state in reading

Reading30%
State average 29.9% · 794 students tested
Math32%
State average 25.8% · 787 students tested

Fairbury vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Fairbury’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FairburyB−Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8

Every school in Fairbury

5 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).

Also serving Fairburyin other towns
Prairie Central Primary West
Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Chenoa
244 students15:1Rate it →
Prairie Central Primary East
Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Chatsworth
148 students11:1Rate it →
Prairie Central Elem School
Elementary · Grades 2–4
B
367 students12:1Rate it →
Prairie Central Jr High School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Forrest
B+
250 students12:1Rate it →
Prairie Central High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
487 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Fairbury’s schools

Are Fairbury’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Fairbury children attend outscore 52% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #434 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 58%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Fairbury in?

Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,712 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Fairbury kids go to high school?

Prairie Central High School, with 487 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Fairbury’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Fairbury spend per student?

$16,593 in Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Fairbury families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fairbury → 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.