Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0Urbana’s public schools score below 85% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
11% of students in Urbana’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Urbana, 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, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Urbana’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 13% of tested students were proficient in reading and 11% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide. The grade ↓
Graduation
80% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $22,151 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 Urbana Middle School, then Urbana High School. Enrollment is up 13% since 2021–22. 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 Urbana’s grade
C−: better than 15% of Illinois school districts, #691 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Urbana, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Urbana
Urbana Early Childhood Ctr
Grades PK · 244 students · 17:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Urbana
Urbana Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 877 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Urbana
Urbana Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 877 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Urbana
Urbana Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 877 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Urbana
Urbana High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,176 students · 12:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Urbana
Urbana High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,176 students · 12:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Urbana
Urbana High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,176 students · 12:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Urbana
Urbana High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,176 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Urbana’s public schools are run by Urbana School District 116, which also serves Cunningham, Somer and Urbana. Parts of Urbana (3% of its land) are served by Champaign Community Unit School District 4 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.
Well below the state in reading
Urbana vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Urbana’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Urbana | C− | Urbana School District 116 |
| Cunningham | C− | Urbana School District 116 |
| Urbana Township | C− | Urbana School District 116 PK–12 · St. Joseph-Ogden Community High School District 305 9–12 |
| Somer | — | Urbana School District 116 PK–12 · Thomasboro Community Consolidated School District 130 PK–8 · Champaign Community Unit School District 4 PK–12 |
| Champaign City | C | Champaign Community Unit School District 4 |
| Champaign | C | Champaign Community Unit School District 4 |
3 of the 5 neighbors share Urbana School District 116 with Urbana, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Urbana
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 Urbana’s schools
Are Urbana’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Urbana children attend score below 85% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #691 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 17%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Urbana in?
Urbana School District 116, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,197 students in 8 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Urbana are served by Champaign Community Unit School District 4.
Where do Urbana kids go to high school?
Urbana High School, with 1,176 students; its own test results earn a B.
What is Urbana’s graduation rate?
80% of the class of 2023 in Urbana School District 116 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Urbana spend per student?
$22,151 in Urbana School District 116 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Urbana families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Urbana → 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.