Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst · CC BY 4.0Hillsboro’s public schools outscore 58% of Illinois districts
Reading proficiency in Hillsboro’s districts is 38%, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the public school district serving Hillsboro, 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.
Hillsboro’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 800 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Hillsboro’s, its schools beat 78%, higher than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 38% and math 20% 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 $15,125 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 Hillsboro Jr High School, then Hillsboro High School. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. 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 Hillsboro’s grade
B: better than 58% of Illinois school districts, #383 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores are above the Illinois average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hillsboro, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Hillsboro
Coffeen Early Childhood Center
Grades PK · 139 students · 28:1 students per teacher · in Coffeen
Kindergarten in Hillsboro
Beckemeyer Elem School
Grades K–5 · 641 students · 14:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Hillsboro
Beckemeyer Elem School
Grades K–5 · 641 students · 14:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Hillsboro
Beckemeyer Elem School
Grades K–5 · 641 students · 14:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Hillsboro
Beckemeyer Elem School
Grades K–5 · 641 students · 14:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Hillsboro
Beckemeyer Elem School
Grades K–5 · 641 students · 14:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Hillsboro
Beckemeyer Elem School
Grades K–5 · 641 students · 14:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 319 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 319 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 319 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 11:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 11:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 11:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Hillsboro
Hillsboro High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Hillsboro’s public schools are run by Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3. Parts of Hillsboro (2% of its land) are served by Panhandle Community Unit School District 2 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.
Well above the state in reading
Hillsboro vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Hillsboro’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | B | Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 |
| Taylor Springs | — | Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 |
| East Fork | B | Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 |
| Butler Grove | — | Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 |
| Hillsboro Township | — | Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 |
| Irving | — | Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 |
All 5 neighbors share Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 with Hillsboro, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Hillsboro
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).
Questions about Hillsboro’s schools
Are Hillsboro’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Hillsboro children attend outscore 58% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #383 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 78%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Hillsboro in?
Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,518 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Hillsboro are served by Panhandle Community Unit School District 2.
Where do Hillsboro kids go to high school?
Hillsboro High School, with 419 students; its own test results earn a C.
What is Hillsboro’s graduation rate?
85–89% of the class of 2023 in Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Hillsboro spend per student?
$15,125 in Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Hillsboro families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hillsboro → 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.