Photo: Katherine Johnson from Springfield, IL · CC BY 2.0Lincoln’s public schools outscore 71% of Illinois districts
Reading proficiency in Lincoln’s districts is 41%, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lincoln, 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.
Lincoln’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1164 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lincoln’s, its schools beat 91%, higher than their 71% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Lincoln runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares
Lincoln Jr High School (6–8) is Lincoln’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Lincoln Community High School District 404 with Aetna, Atlanta, Barnett, Broadwell, Broadwell, Chester, Corwin, East Lincoln, Elkhart, Eminence, Hurlbut, Mason City, Middletown, New Holland, Oran, Prairie Creek, Sheridan, Tunbridge and West Lincoln: Lincoln Comm High School in Lincoln. The high school’s own results earn a B−. See the path ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 41% and math 25% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Lincoln Community High School District 404 spends $19,062 per student and Lincoln Elementary School District 27 $18,473, 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 Lincoln’s grade
B+: better than 71% of Illinois school districts, #252 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lincoln, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Lincoln · depends on your address
Central Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 183 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Adams Elem School
Grades PK–2 · 57 students · 7:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Lincoln · depends on your address
Northwest Elem School
Grades K–5 · 271 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Washington-Monroe Elem School
Grades K–5 · 224 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Central Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 183 students · 13:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Lincoln · depends on your address
Northwest Elem School
Grades K–5 · 271 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Washington-Monroe Elem School
Grades K–5 · 224 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Central Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 183 students · 13:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Lincoln · depends on your address
Northwest Elem School
Grades K–5 · 271 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Washington-Monroe Elem School
Grades K–5 · 224 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Central Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 183 students · 13:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 321 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 321 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Jr High School
Grades 6–8 · 321 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Comm High School
Grades 9–12 · 764 students · 13:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Comm High School
Grades 9–12 · 764 students · 13:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Comm High School
Grades 9–12 · 764 students · 13:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Lincoln
Lincoln Comm High School
Grades 9–12 · 764 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Lincoln runs its own schools through grade 8 (Lincoln Elementary School District 27). From grade 9, students attend the Lincoln Community High School District 404, shared with Aetna, Atlanta, Barnett, Broadwell, Broadwell, Chester, Corwin, East Lincoln, Elkhart, Eminence, Hurlbut, Mason City, Middletown, New Holland, Oran, Prairie Creek, Sheridan, Tunbridge and West Lincoln. Its elementary school is in Lincoln. Parts of Lincoln (19% and 10% of its land) are served by West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School District 92 and Chester-East Lincoln Community CSD 61 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Lincoln
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
Lincoln vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Lincoln’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | B+ | Lincoln Elementary School District 27 PK–8 · Lincoln Community High School District 404 9–12 |
| Broadwell | B+ | West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School District 92 PK–8 · Lincoln Community High School District 404 9–12 |
| West Lincoln | B+ | West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School District 92 PK–8 · Lincoln Community High School District 404 9–12 |
All 2 neighbors share Lincoln Community High School District 404 with Lincoln for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Lincoln
6 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 Lincoln’s schools
Are Lincoln’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lincoln children attend outscore 71% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #252 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 91%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Lincoln in?
Two districts: Lincoln Elementary School District 27 runs grades PK–8, and Lincoln Community High School District 404 runs grades 9–12, shared with Aetna, Atlanta, Barnett, Broadwell, Broadwell, Chester, Corwin, East Lincoln, Elkhart, Eminence, Hurlbut, Mason City, Middletown, New Holland, Oran, Prairie Creek, Sheridan, Tunbridge and West Lincoln.
Where do Lincoln kids go to high school?
Lincoln Comm High School, with 764 students; its own test results earn a B−.
What is Lincoln’s graduation rate?
90–94% of the class of 2023 in Lincoln Community High School District 404 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Lincoln spend per student?
$19,062 in Lincoln Community High School District 404 and $18,473 in Lincoln Elementary School District 27 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Lincoln families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lincoln → 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.