Best Schools in Dekalb, Illinois
10 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Dekalb?
Use this page to compare every school in Dekalb by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Jefferson Elem School
Elementary · Dekalb Cusd 428. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Founders Elementary School
Elementary · Dekalb Cusd 428. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Littlejohn Elem School
Elementary · Dekalb Cusd 428. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Dekalb for 2026 are Jefferson Elem School (7.6/10), Founders Elementary School (5.7/10), and Littlejohn Elem School (5.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$205,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$205,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.6/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Dekalb schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Dekalb schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Dekalb
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 10 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Elem School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Founders Elementary School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Littlejohn Elem School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Huntley Middle School | 5.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Clinton Rosette Middle School | 4.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Dekalb High School | 4.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch | 4.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Lincoln Elementary School | 3.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $46,808
- Median home value
- $205,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 43%
10% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Dekalb compares
Illinois rank
#417 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.3
below Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$47k
57% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
10
Dekalb CUSD 428 runs Dekalb's public schools
9 public schools. Dekalb CUSD 428 is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Dekalb is a Dekalb CUSD 428 school (9 of 9).
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.9 to 7.6 — the spread is inside Dekalb, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Dekalb, Illinois
Dekalb, Illinois is home to 10 schools, including 9 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 5.0 out of 10, schools in Dekalb show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Dekalb is Jefferson Elem School with a composite score of 7.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Dekalb is served by 1 school district: DeKalb CUSD 428. These districts collectively serve 6,719 students.
Dekalb's community shows 36% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $46,808. The poverty rate in the area is 26.1%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 321 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 543 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 361 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 4 | 323 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | 267 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Mary SchoolPrivate 203 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 891 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 2 | 582 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,070 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 289 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 |
Schools in Dekalb
Dekalb, Illinois · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$46,808
Median Home Value
$205,700
Median Rent
$1,018/mo
Population
42,461
College Educated
36%
Homeownership
43%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
26.1%
Community Profile
Dekalb has a median household income of $46,808. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $205,700, with a median rent of $1,018/month. The area has a poverty rate of 26.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Illinois
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Dekalb, Illinois
How many schools are in Dekalb, Illinois?
Dekalb has 10 schools, including 9 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Dekalb, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Dekalb is 5.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Dekalb, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Dekalb on MySchoolScout is Jefferson Elem School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Dekalb, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Dekalb on MySchoolScout is Jefferson Elem School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Dekalb, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Dekalb on MySchoolScout is Huntley Middle School with a composite score of 5.2/10.
What is the best high school in Dekalb, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Dekalb on MySchoolScout is Dekalb High School with a composite score of 4.1/10.
How many school districts serve Dekalb, Illinois?
Dekalb is served by 1 school district: Dekalb Cusd 428.
What is the education level in Dekalb, Illinois?
According to Census data, 36% of adults in Dekalb have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Dekalb, Illinois?
The median household income in Dekalb is approximately $46,808 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Dekalb, Illinois?
Yes, Dekalb has 1 private school alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary School with a score of 5.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dekalb, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Dekalb is 15.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Dekalb, Illinois?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Illinois Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.