Mendota’s public schools score below 68% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
On the state math tests, 12% of Mendota’s students scored proficient, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Mendota, 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.
Mendota’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 888 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mendota’s, its schools beat 39%, higher than their 32% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Mendota runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares
Blackstone Elem School (K–1), Lincoln Elem School (2–4) and Northbrook School (5–8) are Mendota’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Mendota Township High School District 280 with Bradford, Brooklyn, Clarion, Compton, Lee Center, Mendota, Meriden, Ophir, Sublette, Troy Grove, Troy Grove, Viola, West Brooklyn and Wyoming: Mendota Twp High School in Mendota. The high school’s own results earn a C+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 25% of tested students were proficient in reading and 12% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Mendota’s rate as a range). Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 spends $15,892 per student and Mendota Township High School District 280 $21,043, 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 Mendota’s grade
C: better than 32% of Illinois school districts, #569 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Mendota, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Mendota
Blackstone Elem School
Grades K–1 · 197 students · 12:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Mendota
Blackstone Elem School
Grades K–1 · 197 students · 12:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Mendota
Lincoln Elem School
Grades 2–4 · 319 students · 12:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Mendota
Lincoln Elem School
Grades 2–4 · 319 students · 12:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Mendota
Lincoln Elem School
Grades 2–4 · 319 students · 12:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Mendota
Northbrook School
Grades 5–8 · 526 students · 14:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Mendota
Northbrook School
Grades 5–8 · 526 students · 14:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Mendota
Northbrook School
Grades 5–8 · 526 students · 14:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Mendota
Northbrook School
Grades 5–8 · 526 students · 14:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Mendota
Mendota Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 493 students · 13:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Mendota
Mendota Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 493 students · 13:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Mendota
Mendota Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 493 students · 13:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Mendota
Mendota Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 493 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Mendota runs its own schools through grade 8 (Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289). From grade 9, students attend the Mendota Township High School District 280, shared with Bradford, Brooklyn, Clarion, Compton, Lee Center, Mendota, Meriden, Ophir, Sublette, Troy Grove, Troy Grove, Viola, West Brooklyn and Wyoming. Its elementary school is in Mendota. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Mendota
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Below the state in reading
Mendota vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Mendota’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Mendota | C | Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 K–8 · Mendota Township High School District 280 9–12 |
| Meriden | — | Earlville Community Unit School District 9 PK–12 · Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 K–8 · Mendota Township High School District 280 9–12 |
| Mendota Township | — | Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 K–8 · Mendota Township High School District 280 9–12 |
All 2 neighbors share Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 with Mendota for grades K–8, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Mendota
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 Mendota’s schools
Are Mendota’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Mendota children attend score below 68% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #569 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 39%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Mendota in?
Two districts: Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 runs grades K–8, and Mendota Township High School District 280 runs grades 9–12, shared with Bradford, Brooklyn, Clarion, Compton, Lee Center, Mendota, Meriden, Ophir, Sublette, Troy Grove, Troy Grove, Viola, West Brooklyn and Wyoming.
Where do Mendota kids go to high school?
Mendota Twp High School, with 493 students; its own test results earn a C+.
What is Mendota’s graduation rate?
85–89% of the class of 2023 in Mendota Township High School District 280 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Mendota spend per student?
$15,892 in Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 and $21,043 in Mendota Township High School District 280 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Mendota families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mendota → 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.