Saline County Poor Farm · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainHarrisburg’s public schools score below 80% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
On the state math tests, 5% of Harrisburg’s students scored proficient, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Harrisburg, 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.
Harrisburg’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 417 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Harrisburg’s, its schools beat 28%, higher than their 20% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 35% and math 5% in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $17,341 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school
From grade 3 the district’s path is East Side Intermediate School, then Harrisburg Middle School, then Harrisburg 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.
What’s behind Harrisburg’s grade
C−: better than 20% of Illinois school districts, #639 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 Harrisburg, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Harrisburg
Bulldog Early Learning Academy
Grades PK · 111 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Harrisburg
West Side Primary School
Grades K–2 · 400 students · 11:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Harrisburg
West Side Primary School
Grades K–2 · 400 students · 11:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Harrisburg
West Side Primary School
Grades K–2 · 400 students · 11:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Harrisburg
East Side Intermediate School
Grades 3–5 · 397 students · 14:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Harrisburg
East Side Intermediate School
Grades 3–5 · 397 students · 14:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Harrisburg
East Side Intermediate School
Grades 3–5 · 397 students · 14:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 382 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 382 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 382 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg High School
Grades 9–12 · 491 students · 12:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg High School
Grades 9–12 · 491 students · 12:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg High School
Grades 9–12 · 491 students · 12:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Harrisburg
Harrisburg High School
Grades 9–12 · 491 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg’s public schools are run by Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3, which also serves Brushy, Cottage, Harrisburg and Independence and others. 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.
Well above the state in reading
Harrisburg vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Harrisburg’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | C− | Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 |
| Muddy | — | Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 |
Every school in Harrisburg
4 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 Harrisburg’s schools
Are Harrisburg’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Harrisburg children attend score below 80% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #639 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 28%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Harrisburg in?
Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,781 students in 5 schools (2024–25).
Where do Harrisburg kids go to high school?
Harrisburg High School, with 491 students; its own test results earn a C.
What is Harrisburg’s graduation rate?
75–79% of the class of 2023 in Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Harrisburg spend per student?
$17,341 in Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Harrisburg families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Harrisburg → 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.