St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad Depot · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0Pekin’s public schools score below 66% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
Math proficiency in Pekin’s districts is 17%, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Pekin, 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.
Pekin’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1281 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pekin’s, its schools beat 41%, higher than their 34% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 20% of tested students were proficient in reading and 17% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Pekin Community High School District 303 spends $17,291 per student and Pekin Public School District108 $17,938, 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 Pekin’s grade
C: better than 34% of Illinois school districts, #553 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Pekin, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Pekin
Pekin Preschool Family Ed Center
Grades PK · 201 students · 22:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Pekin · depends on your address
Wilson Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 600 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Washington Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 428 students · 13:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Pekin · depends on your address
Wilson Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 600 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Washington Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 428 students · 13:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Pekin · depends on your address
Wilson Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 600 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Washington Intermediate School
Grades 4–6 · 428 students · 13:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Pekin · depends on your address
Broadmoor Junior High School
Grades 7–8 · 387 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Edison Junior High School
Grades 7–8 · 271 students · 10:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Pekin · depends on your address
Broadmoor Junior High School
Grades 7–8 · 387 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Edison Junior High School
Grades 7–8 · 271 students · 10:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Pekin
Pekin Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,712 students · 16:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Pekin
Pekin Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,712 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Pekin runs its own schools through grade 8 (Pekin Public School District108). From grade 9, students attend the Pekin Community High School District 303, shared with Cincinnati, Creve Coeur, Elm Grove, Groveland, Marquette Heights, North Pekin, Pekin, Sand Prairie, South Pekin and Spring Lake. Its elementary school is in Pekin. Parts of Pekin (12% and 10% of its land) are served by North Pekin-Marquette Heights School District 102 and Rankin Community School District 98 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Pekin
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Pekin vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Pekin’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Pekin | C | Pekin Public School District108 PK–8 · Pekin Community High School District 303 9–12 |
| North Pekin | B− | North Pekin-Marquette Heights School District 102 PK–8 · Pekin Community High School District 303 9–12 |
| Hollis | C | Illini Bluffs Community Unit School District 327 PK–12 · Hollis Consolidated School District 328 K–8 · Limestone Community High School District 310 9–12 |
| Pekin Township | — | Pekin Public School District108 PK–8 · North Pekin-Marquette Heights School District 102 PK–8 · Pekin Community High School District 303 9–12 |
| Elm Grove | B− | Tremont Community Unit School District 702 PK–12 · Pekin Public School District108 PK–8 · Pekin Community High School District 303 9–12 |
| Marquette Heights | B− | North Pekin-Marquette Heights School District 102 PK–8 · Pekin Community High School District 303 9–12 |
| Groveland | B | Morton Community Unit School District 709 PK–12 · Pekin Public School District108 PK–8 · East Peoria School District 86 PK–8 |
| Cincinnati | B | Rankin Community School District 98 K–8 · Pekin Community High School District 303 9–12 |
6 of the 7 neighbors share Pekin Community High School District 303 with Pekin for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Pekin
9 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 Pekin’s schools
Are Pekin’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pekin children attend score below 66% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #553 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 41%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Pekin in?
Two districts: Pekin Public School District108 runs grades PK–8, and Pekin Community High School District 303 runs grades 9–12, shared with Cincinnati, Creve Coeur, Elm Grove, Groveland, Marquette Heights, North Pekin, Pekin, Sand Prairie, South Pekin and Spring Lake.
Where do Pekin kids go to high school?
Pekin Community High School, with 1,712 students; its own test results earn a B−.
What is Pekin’s graduation rate?
92% of the class of 2023 in Pekin Community High School District 303 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Pekin spend per student?
$17,291 in Pekin Community High School District 303 and $17,938 in Pekin Public School District108 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Pekin families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pekin → 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.