Gardner’s public schools outscore 54% of Illinois districts
30% of students in Gardner’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Gardner, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. 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.
Gardner’s schools, in brief
Gardner runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares
Gardner Elem School (PK–8) is Gardner’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Gardner-South Wilmington Township High School District with Braceville, Braceville, East Brooklyn, Essex, Garfield, Godley, Goodfarm, Greenfield, Maine and South Wilmington: Gardner-South Wilmington Twp H S in Gardner. The high school’s own results earn a B+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓
Above the state in math, below in reading
Reading proficiency is 23% and math 30% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Gardner Community Consolidated School District 72C spends $19,090 per student and Gardner-South Wilmington Township High $30,824, 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 Gardner’s grade
B−: better than 54% of Illinois school districts. Test scores are below the Illinois average; there is no graduation rate to add.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Gardner, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Gardner
Gardner Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 146 students · 9:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Gardner
Gardner-South Wilmington Twp H S
Grades 9–12 · 154 students · 9:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Gardner
Gardner-South Wilmington Twp H S
Grades 9–12 · 154 students · 9:1 students per teacher
Gardner runs its own schools through grade 8 (Gardner Community Consolidated School District 72C). From grade 9, students attend the Gardner-South Wilmington Township High School District, shared with Braceville, Braceville, East Brooklyn, Essex, Garfield, Godley, Goodfarm, Greenfield, Maine and South Wilmington. Its school is in Gardner. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Gardner
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
Gardner vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Gardner’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Gardner | B− | Gardner Community Consolidated School District 72C PK–8 · Gardner-South Wilmington Township High 9–12 |
| Greenfield | B+ | Herscher Community Unit School District 2 PK–12 · South Wilmington Consolidated School District 74 K–8 · Gardner-South Wilmington Township High 9–12 |
| Garfield | B− | Gardner Community Consolidated School District 72C PK–8 · Gardner-South Wilmington Township High 9–12 · Dwight Township High School District 230 9–12 |
All 2 neighbors share Gardner-South Wilmington Township High with Gardner for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Gardner
2 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 Gardner’s schools
Are Gardner’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Gardner children attend outscore 54% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Gardner in?
Two districts: Gardner Community Consolidated School District 72C runs grades PK–8, and Gardner-South Wilmington Township High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Braceville, Braceville, East Brooklyn, Essex, Garfield, Godley, Goodfarm, Greenfield, Maine and South Wilmington.
Where do Gardner kids go to high school?
Gardner-South Wilmington Twp H S, with 154 students; its own test results earn a B+.
How much does Gardner spend per student?
$19,090 in Gardner Community Consolidated School District 72C and $30,824 in Gardner-South Wilmington Township High School District (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Gardner families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gardner → 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.