Mount Zion’s public schools outscore 75% of Illinois districts
Reading proficiency in Mount Zion’s districts is 38%, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the public school district serving Mount Zion, 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.
Mount Zion’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 38% and math 32% 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
The district spends $14,892 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school
From grade 2 the district’s path is Mt Zion Elem School, then Mt Zion Jr High School, then Mt Zion 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.
What’s behind Mount Zion’s grade
A−: better than 75% of Illinois school districts, #210 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 Mount Zion, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Mount Zion
McGaughey Elem School
Grades PK–1 · 371 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Mount Zion
McGaughey Elem School
Grades PK–1 · 371 students · 17:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Mount Zion
McGaughey Elem School
Grades PK–1 · 371 students · 17:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Elem School
Grades 2–3 · 359 students · 16:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Elem School
Grades 2–3 · 359 students · 16:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 557 students · 17:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 557 students · 17:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 557 students · 17:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Jr High School
Grades 7–8 · 378 students · 16:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion Jr High School
Grades 7–8 · 378 students · 16:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion High School
Grades 9–12 · 762 students · 17:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion High School
Grades 9–12 · 762 students · 17:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion High School
Grades 9–12 · 762 students · 17:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Mount Zion
Mt Zion High School
Grades 9–12 · 762 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Mount Zion’s public schools are run by Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3, which also serves Dalton City, Long Creek, Long Creek and Mount Zion. 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
Mount Zion vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Mount Zion’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Zion | A− | Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 |
| Decatur | D− | Decatur School District 61 |
| Long Creek | B+ | Cerro Gordo Community Unit School District 100 PK–12 · Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 PK–12 |
| South Wheatland | B+ | Meridian Community Unit School District 15 |
| Long Creek (village) | A− | Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 |
2 of the 4 neighbors share Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 with Mount Zion, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Mount Zion
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 Mount Zion’s schools
Are Mount Zion’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Mount Zion children attend outscore 75% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #210 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 76%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Mount Zion in?
Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,427 students in 5 schools (2024–25).
Where do Mount Zion kids go to high school?
Mt Zion High School, with 762 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is Mount Zion’s graduation rate?
90–94% of the class of 2023 in Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Mount Zion spend per student?
$14,892 in Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Mount Zion families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mount Zion → 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.