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Schools in Rochester · Rochester Community Unit School District 3A

Rochester’s public schools outscore 59% of Illinois districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Rochester, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Reading proficiency in Rochester’s districts is 24%, below the Illinois average (30%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.

#370of 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
24%
▼ 6 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
28%
▲ 2 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.8K
▼ 31% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.4
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,618 students on the public path
In brief

Rochester’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 750 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Rochester’s, its schools beat 43%, lower than their 59% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 24% and math 28% 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 $14,844 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 Rochester Elem 2-3, then Rochester Jr High School, then Rochester 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 Rochester’s grade

B− Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 59% of Illinois school districts, #370 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 59%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (750)Better than 43%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 649 test results and a graduating class of 186 could put Rochester anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Rochester’s students in the tested grades sat them (219 in math, 1,079 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–1Rochester Elem EC-1 SchRochester Community Unit School District 3ANo scores
2–3Rochester Elem 2-3Rochester Community Unit School District 3ANo scores
7–8Rochester Jr High SchoolRochester Community Unit School District 3ANo scores
9–12Rochester High SchoolRochester Community Unit School District 3AA−

Rochester’s public schools are run by Rochester Community Unit School District 3A, which also serves Cooper and Rochester. 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.

Rochester Community Unit School District 3AGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,012 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 15.4 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$14,844IL $21,567 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2020–21

Well below the state in reading

Reading24%
State average 29.9% · 1079 students tested
Math28%
State average 25.8% · 219 students tested

Rochester vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
RochesterBRochester Community Unit School District 3A

Every school in Rochester

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 Rochesterin other towns
Rochester Elem EC-1 Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–1
402 students16:1Rate it →
Rochester Elem 2-3
Elementary · Grades 2–3
236 students13:1Rate it →
Rochester Jr High School
Middle · Grades 7–8
288 students14:1Rate it →
Rochester High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
692 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Rochester’s schools

Are Rochester’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Illinois: the public schools Rochester children attend outscore 59% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #370 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rochester in?

Rochester Community Unit School District 3A, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,012 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Rochester kids go to high school?

Rochester High School, with 692 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Rochester’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Rochester Community Unit School District 3A graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Rochester spend per student?

$14,844 in Rochester Community Unit School District 3A (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Rochester families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rochester → 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.