Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0Springfield’s public schools score below 84% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
62% of Springfield’s students graduate on time, below the Illinois average (88%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Springfield, 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.
Springfield’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 24% 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
62% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Springfield School District 186 spends $24,521 per student and Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 $11,190, 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 Springfield’s grade
C−: better than 16% of Illinois school districts, #673 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Springfield, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Springfield · depends on your address
Ball Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 552 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Chatham
Early Learning Center
Grades PK · 549 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Ridgely Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 343 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Springfield runs its own schools through grade 12 (Springfield School District 186). From grade PK, students attend the Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5, shared with Ball, Capital, Chatham, Chatham, Cotton Hill and Woodside. Its elementary school is in Chatham. Parts of Springfield (3% and 2% of its land) are served by New Berlin CUSD 16 and Riverton Community Unit School District 14 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Springfield
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
Springfield vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Springfield’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield | C− | Springfield School District 186 PK–12 · Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 |
| Capital | C− | Springfield School District 186 PK–12 · Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 |
| Springfield Township | D− | Springfield School District 186 |
| Curran | B− | New Berlin CUSD 16 |
| Ball | A− | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 |
| Gardner | B | Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8 |
| Rochester | B | Rochester Community Unit School District 3A |
| Clear Lake | C | Riverton Community Unit School District 14 PK–12 · Tri-City Community Unit School District 1 PK–12 |
| Woodside | C− | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Springfield School District 186 PK–12 |
| Chatham | A− | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 |
| Sherman | A | Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 |
| Fancy Creek | A− | Athens Community Unit School District 213 PK–12 · Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 PK–12 |
| Cotton Hill | — | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Pawnee Community Unit School District 11 PK–12 |
| Chatham Township | B+ | Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 PK–12 · Auburn Community Unit School District 10 PK–12 |
6 of the 13 neighbors share Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 with Springfield for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Springfield
34 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 Springfield’s schools
Are Springfield’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Springfield children attend score below 84% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #673 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 12%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Springfield in?
Two districts: Springfield School District 186 runs grades PK–12, and Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 runs grades PK–12, shared with Ball, Capital, Chatham, Chatham, Cotton Hill and Woodside.
Where do Springfield kids go to high school?
One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Glenwood High School, Springfield High School, Springfield Southeast High Sch, Lanphier High School and Edwin A Lee Elementary School.
What is Springfield’s graduation rate?
62% of the class of 2023 in Springfield School District 186 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Springfield spend per student?
$24,521 in Springfield School District 186 and $11,190 in Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Springfield families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Springfield → 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.