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Chestnut and Whittle in OlneyPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
B−
Schools in Olney · Richland County Community Unit School District 1

Olney’s public schools outscore 53% of Illinois districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Olney, 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.

#429of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
28%
▼ 2 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
23%
▼ 3 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 1–3 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.0K
▼ 35% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.9
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,996 students on the public path
In brief

Olney’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1256 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Olney’s, its schools beat 67%, higher than their 53% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Olney’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,952 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 Richland County Middle School, then Richland County 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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Olney’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Illinois school districts, #429 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 53%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1256)Better than 67%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,062 test results and a graduating class of 194 could put Olney anywhere from C+ to B+.

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Olney, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Richland County Elementary SchoolRichland County Community Unit School District 1B
6–8Richland County Middle SchoolRichland County Community Unit School District 1B−
9–12Richland County High SchoolRichland County Community Unit School District 1C+

Olney’s public schools are run by Richland County Community Unit School District 1. 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.

Richland County Community Unit School District 1Grades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,145 students, down 2% since 2023–24 · 14.9 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$13,952IL $21,567 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2020–21

Below the state in reading

Reading28%
State average 29.9% · 1058 students tested
Math23%
State average 25.8% · 1067 students tested

Olney vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Olney’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OlneyB−Richland County Community Unit School District 1

Every school in Olney

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).

Also serving Olneyin other towns
Richland County Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B
888 students14:1Rate it →
Richland County Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
439 students14:1Rate it →
Richland County High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
669 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Olney’s schools

Are Olney’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Olney children attend outscore 53% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #429 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 67%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Olney in?

Richland County Community Unit School District 1, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,145 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Olney kids go to high school?

Richland County High School, with 669 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Olney’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Richland County Community Unit School District 1 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Olney spend per student?

$13,952 in Richland County Community Unit School District 1 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Olney families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Olney → 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.