Elmwood Cemetery Gates · Photo: Andy McMurray · CC BY 2.5Sycamore’s public schools outscore 71% of Illinois districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Sycamore, 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.
Sycamore’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1390 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sycamore’s, its schools beat 81%, higher than their 71% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 32% and math 26% in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $18,910 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Five elementary schools, then one middle and one high school
Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Sycamore Middle School, then Sycamore 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.
What’s behind Sycamore’s grade
B+: better than 71% of Illinois school districts, #252 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sycamore, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Sycamore
South Prairie Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 456 students · 17:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 847 students · 14:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 847 students · 14:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 847 students · 14:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,161 students · 16:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,161 students · 16:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,161 students · 16:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Sycamore
Sycamore High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,161 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Sycamore’s public schools are run by Sycamore Community Unit School District 427, which also serves Cortland, Mayfield and Sycamore. Parts of Sycamore (4% of its land) are served by DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 instead. 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.
Above the state in reading
Sycamore vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Sycamore’s borders.
Every school in Sycamore
7 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 Sycamore’s schools
Are Sycamore’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Sycamore children attend outscore 71% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #252 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 81%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Sycamore in?
Sycamore Community Unit School District 427, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,720 students in 7 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Sycamore are served by DeKalb Community Unit School District 428.
Where do Sycamore kids go to high school?
Sycamore High School, with 1,161 students; its own test results earn a B+.
What is Sycamore’s graduation rate?
94% of the class of 2023 in Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Sycamore spend per student?
$18,910 in Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Sycamore families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sycamore → 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.