Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 3.0Lansing’s public schools score below 80% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
In Lansing, 7% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Lansing, 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.
Lansing’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1485 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lansing’s, its schools beat 15%, lower than their 20% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 19% of tested students were proficient in reading and 7% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 spends $25,124 per student and Lansing School District 158 $16,620, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Five elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. 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 Lansing’s grade
C−: better than 20% of Illinois school districts, #639 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lansing, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Lansing · depends on your address
Nathan Hale Elem School
Grades PK–4 · 525 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Lester Crawl Primary Ctr
Grades PK–1 · 135 students · 14:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Lansing · depends on your address
Memorial Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 854 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Heritage Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 500 students · 14:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Lansing · depends on your address
Memorial Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 854 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Heritage Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 500 students · 14:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Lansing · depends on your address
Memorial Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 854 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Heritage Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 500 students · 14:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Lansing · depends on your address
Thornton Fractnl So High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,803 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Thornton Fractnl No High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,425 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Calumet City
10th grade in Lansing · depends on your address
Thornton Fractnl So High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,803 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Thornton Fractnl No High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,425 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Calumet City
Parts of Lansing (6%, 3%, 2% and 2% of its land) are served by Thornton Township High School District 205, South Holland School District 150, Bloom Township High School District 206 and Sandridge School District 172 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Lansing
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
Lansing vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Lansing’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Lansing | C− | Lansing School District 158 PK–8 · Sunnybrook School District 171 PK–8 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 9–12 |
| Calumet City | D | Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157 PK–8 · Calumet City School District 155 PK–8 · Dolton School District 149 PK–8 |
| Lynwood | C− | Sandridge School District 172 PK–8 · Sunnybrook School District 171 PK–8 · Bloom Township High School District 206 9–12 |
| South Holland | D | South Holland School District 151 PK–8 · South Holland School District 150 PK–8 · Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 |
| Bloom | C− | Bloom Township High School District 206 |
| Thornton | C− | Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 9–12 |
2 of the 5 neighbors share Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 with Lansing for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades. Hammond, IN, Munster, IN and North, IN border Lansing but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.
Every school in Lansing
9 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 Lansing’s schools
Are Lansing’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lansing 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 15%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Lansing in?
Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 3,228 students in 2 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Lansing are served by Thornton Township High School District 205, South Holland School District 150, Bloom Township High School District 206 and Sandridge School District 172.
Where do Lansing kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Thornton Fractnl So High School and Thornton Fractnl No High School.
What is Lansing’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Lansing spend per student?
$25,124 in Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215, $16,620 in Lansing School District 158 and $16,339 in Sunnybrook School District 171 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Lansing families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lansing → 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.