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Matson Public LibraryPhoto: Kepper66 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Princeton · Princeton Elementary School District 115, Princeton High School District 500

Princeton’s public schools outscore 53% of Illinois districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Princeton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Princeton, 22% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). 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, 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
28%
▼ 2 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
22%
▼ 4 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 7–12 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.9K
▼ 26% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Princeton Elementary School District 115
Students per teacher
14.4
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,359 students on the public path
In brief

Princeton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1335 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Princeton’s, its schools beat 66%, higher than their 53% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Princeton runs its own schools through grade 12, then shares

Logan Jr High School (5–8) is Princeton’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Princeton High School District 500 with Arispie, Berlin, Bureau, Dover, Dover, Indiantown, Malden, Milo, Princeton, Selby, Senachwine, Tiskilwa, Wheatland and Wyanet: Princeton High School in Princeton. The high school’s own results earn a B+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 22% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Princeton’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Princeton Elementary School District 115 spends $15,908 per student and Princeton High School District 500 $19,488, 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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Princeton’s grade

B− Test scoresA Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Illinois school districts, #429 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 53%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1335)Better than 66%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 699 test results and a graduating class of 98 could put Princeton anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Princeton’s students in the tested grades sat them (681 in math, 718 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–32 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
5–8Logan Jr High SchoolPrinceton Elementary School District 115B−
9–12Princeton High SchoolPrinceton High School District 500B+

Princeton runs its own schools through grade 12 (Princeton Elementary School District 115). From grade 9, students attend the Princeton High School District 500, shared with Arispie, Berlin, Bureau, Dover, Dover, Indiantown, Malden, Milo, Princeton, Selby, Senachwine, Tiskilwa, Wheatland and Wyanet. Its elementary school is in Princeton. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Princeton

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Princeton Elementary School District 115Grades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,091 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 14.0 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$15,908IL $21,567 · FY2024
B−
Princeton High School District 500Grades 9–12 · 1 schools · 479 students, down 11% since 2020–21 · 15.6 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$19,488IL $21,567 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2020–21

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Princeton Elementary School District 11528%
State average 29.9% · 612 students tested
Math · PK–12, Princeton Elementary School District 11521%
State average 25.8% · 553 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Princeton High School District 50027%
State average 29.9% · 106 students tested
Math · 9–12, Princeton High School District 50027%
State average 25.8% · 128 students tested

Princeton vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PrincetonB−Princeton Elementary School District 115 PK–12 · Princeton High School District 500 9–12
Dover—Princeton Elementary School District 115 PK–12 · Princeton High School District 500 9–12
Princeton Township—Princeton Elementary School District 115 PK–12 · Princeton High School District 500 9–12

All 2 neighbors share Princeton Elementary School District 115 with Princeton for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Princeton

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).

Also serving Princetonin other towns
Douglas Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
217 students18:1Rate it →
Jefferson Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–3
220 students12:1Rate it →
Logan Jr High School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B−
443 students15:1Rate it →
Princeton High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
479 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Princeton’s schools

Are Princeton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Princeton 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 66%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Princeton in?

Two districts: Princeton Elementary School District 115 runs grades PK–12, and Princeton High School District 500 runs grades 9–12, shared with Arispie, Berlin, Bureau, Dover, Dover, Indiantown, Malden, Milo, Princeton, Selby, Senachwine, Tiskilwa, Wheatland and Wyanet.

Where do Princeton kids go to high school?

Princeton High School, with 479 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Princeton’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Princeton High School District 500 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Princeton spend per student?

$15,908 in Princeton Elementary School District 115 and $19,488 in Princeton High School District 500 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Princeton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Princeton → 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.