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Schools in Gardner Township · Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8

Gardner Township’s public schools outscore 56% of Illinois districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Gardner Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. On the state math tests, 29% of Gardner Township’s students scored proficient, above the Illinois average (26%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.

#413of 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
25%
▼ 5 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
29%
▲ 3 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 1–3 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.7K
▼ 32% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.3
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
1,294 students on the public path
In brief

Gardner Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 994 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Gardner Township’s, its schools beat 41%, lower than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 25% and math 29% in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,708 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is Pleasant Plains Middle School, then Pleasant Plains 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 Gardner Township’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 56% of Illinois school districts, #413 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (994)Better than 41%
Towns in Sangamon County (26)Better than 65%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 642 test results and a graduating class of 88 could put Gardner Township anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Gardner Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (642 in math, 641 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Farmingdale Elem SchoolPleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8A−
5–8Pleasant Plains Middle SchoolPleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8B−
9–12Pleasant Plains High Schoolin Pleasant PlainsA−

Gardner Township’s public schools are run by Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8, which also serves Cartwright and Pleasant Plains. Parts of Gardner Township (3% of its land) are served by Springfield School District 186 instead. 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.

Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8Grades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,294 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 14.3 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$14,708IL $21,567 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2020–21

Below the state in reading

Reading25%
State average 29.9% · 641 students tested
Math29%
State average 25.8% · 642 students tested

Gardner Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Gardner TownshipBPleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8
CapitalC−Springfield School District 186 PK–12 · Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12
SpringfieldC−Springfield School District 186 PK–12 · Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12
Fancy CreekA−Athens Community Unit School District 213 PK–12 · Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 PK–12
Springfield TownshipD−Springfield School District 186
CartwrightBPleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8

Every school in Gardner Township

3 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).

District schools in Gardner Townshipby address
Farmingdale Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Pleasant Plains
A−
485 students14:1Rate it →
Pleasant Plains Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Pleasant Plains
B−
393 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving Gardner Townshipin other towns
Pleasant Plains High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Pleasant Plains
A−
416 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Gardner Township’s schools

Are Gardner Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Gardner Township children attend outscore 56% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #413 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 41%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Gardner Township in?

Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,294 students in 3 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Gardner Township are served by Springfield School District 186.

Where do Gardner Township kids go to high school?

Pleasant Plains High School in Pleasant Plains, with 416 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Gardner Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Gardner Township spend per student?

$14,708 in Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Gardner Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gardner 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.