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Harvard Illinois PeoplePhoto: Cosmo1976 · CC BY 3.0
D
Schools in Harvard · Harvard Community Unit School District 50

Harvard’s public schools score below 93% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

5% of students in Harvard’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Harvard, 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.

#737of 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
11%
▼ 19 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
5%
▼ 21 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
75–79%
▼ 9–13 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.3K
▼ 6% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.8
IL 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
2,063 students on the public path
In brief

Harvard’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 11% of tested students were proficient in reading and 5% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Harvard’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,292 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 6 the district’s path is Harvard Jr High School, then Harvard 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 Harvard’s grade

D Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 7% of Illinois school districts, #737 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 7%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1461)Better than 4%
D−C−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,135 test results and a graduating class of 197 could put Harvard anywhere from D− to C−. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Harvard’s students in the tested grades sat them (956 in math, 1,314 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–3Crosby Elem SchHarvard Community Unit School District 50D
6–8Harvard Jr High SchoolHarvard Community Unit School District 50C−
9–12Harvard High SchoolHarvard Community Unit School District 50C

Harvard’s public schools are run by Harvard Community Unit School District 50, which also serves Alden, Chemung, Dunham and Hartland. 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.

Harvard Community Unit School District 50Grades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,532 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 10.8 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$20,292IL $21,567 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2020–21

Well below the state in reading

Reading11%
State average 29.9% · 1314 students tested
Math5%
State average 25.8% · 956 students tested

Harvard vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HarvardDHarvard Community Unit School District 50

Every school in Harvard

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).

Also serving Harvardin other towns
Crosby Elem Sch
Elementary · Grades K–3
D
655 students11:1Rate it →
Harvard Jr High School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
593 students12:1Rate it →
Harvard High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
815 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Harvard’s schools

Are Harvard’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Harvard children attend score below 93% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #737 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 4%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Harvard in?

Harvard Community Unit School District 50, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,532 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Harvard kids go to high school?

Harvard High School, with 815 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Harvard’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in Harvard Community Unit School District 50 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Harvard spend per student?

$20,292 in Harvard Community Unit School District 50 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Harvard families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Harvard → 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.