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Payson, IllinoisPhoto: Gerry Dincher · CC BY-SA 2.0
C
Schools in Payson Township · Payson Community Unit School District 1

Payson Township’s public schools score below 71% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

In Payson Township, 14% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the public school district serving Payson Township, 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.

≈could be anywhere from D to BK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
14%
▼ 16 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
16%
▼ 10 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
80–89%
▼ 1–8 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.7K
▼ 32% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.0
IL 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
449 students on the public path
In brief

Payson Township’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 14% of tested students were proficient in reading and 16% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Payson Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,712 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Seymour High School. Enrollment is down 12% since 2020–21. 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 Payson Township’s grade

C− Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 29% of Illinois school districts. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 29%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1338)Better than 30%
Towns in Adams County (23)Better than 9%
DBA rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 252 test results and a graduating class of 34 could put Payson Township anywhere from D to B. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Payson Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (269 in math, 236 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Seymour Elementary SchoolPayson Community Unit School District 1C
7–12Seymour High SchoolPayson Community Unit School District 1C+

Payson Township’s public schools are run by Payson Community Unit School District 1, which also serves Burton, Fall Creek, Melrose and Payson and others. 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.

Payson Community Unit School District 1Grades PK–12 · 2 schools · 449 students, down 12% since 2020–21 · 11.0 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$14,712IL $21,567 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2020–21

Well below the state in reading

Reading14%
State average 29.9% · 236 students tested
Math16%
State average 25.8% · 269 students tested

Payson Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Payson TownshipCPayson Community Unit School District 1
Fall Creek—Payson Community Unit School District 1
Burton—Liberty Community Unit School District 2 PK–12 · Payson Community Unit School District 1 PK–12
Richfield—Payson Community Unit School District 1 PK–12 · Liberty Community Unit School District 2 PK–12
Kinderhook—Western Community Unit School District 12

3 of the 4 neighbors share Payson Community Unit School District 1 with Payson Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Payson Township

2 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).

District schools in Payson Townshipby address
Seymour Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Payson
C
233 students11:1Rate it →
Seymour High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Payson
C+
216 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Payson Township’s schools

Are Payson Township’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Payson Township children attend score below 71% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 30%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Payson Township in?

Payson Community Unit School District 1, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 449 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Payson Township’s graduation rate?

80–89% of the class of 2023 in Payson Community Unit School District 1 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Payson Township spend per student?

$14,712 in Payson Community Unit School District 1 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Payson Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Payson Township → 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.