Best Schools in Lincoln, Illinois
10 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Lincoln?
Use this page to compare every school in Lincoln 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.
Central Elem School
Elementary · Lincoln Esd 27. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
West Lincoln-Broadwell Elem Sch
Elementary · West Lincoln-Broadwell Esd 92. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Chester-East Lincoln Elem School
Elementary · Chester-East Lincoln Ccsd 61. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lincoln for 2026 are Central Elem School (8.8/10), West Lincoln-Broadwell Elem Sch (8.3/10), and Chester-East Lincoln Elem School (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 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
8 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$128,900
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
10
8 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$128,900
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +11.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lincoln schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lincoln
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 rated schools; 10 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Elem School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | West Lincoln-Broadwell Elem Sch | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Chester-East Lincoln Elem School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Northwest Elem School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Washington-Monroe Elem School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Lincoln JR High School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Lincoln Comm High School | 5.1 / 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
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $59,129
- Median home value
- $128,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63%
50% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lincoln compares
Illinois rank
#186 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$59k
72% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
10
Lincoln Esd 27 runs 63% of Lincoln's public schools
Lincoln touches 4 districts, but Lincoln Esd 27 is the one most addresses actually attend.
Lincoln Esd 27 accounts for 5 of 8 public schools (63%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 7 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.1 to 8.8 — the spread is inside Lincoln, not a citywide average.
- Lincoln Esd 275 public · 63%
- Chester-East Lincoln Ccsd 611 public · 13%
- Lincoln Chsd 4041 public · 13%
- West Lincoln-Broadwell Esd 921 public · 13%
About Schools in Lincoln, Illinois
Lincoln's public school landscape spans 8 ranked schools with an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 — a solid baseline for a small central Illinois city. Five of those eight schools, or 62%, score 7 or higher. That concentration matters: it means parents have multiple above-average options rather than one outlier pulling up the mean.
The elementary tier leads the city. Chester-East Lincoln Elementary tops the rankings at 8.0 out of 10, the highest score in Lincoln's public system. West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary follows at 7.9, and Central Elementary scores 7.6. Three elementary schools clustered between 7.6 and 8.0 gives families real choice at the most foundational level. Adams Elementary, rated 7.0, also clears the 7-point mark — meaning four of Lincoln's five listed elementary schools sit in the city's upper performance tier.
The path into middle school holds consistent. Lincoln Junior High scores 7.6, matching Central Elementary and placing it in the upper half of the city's ranked schools. In smaller districts, middle school quality often dips relative to elementary. Lincoln doesn't show that pattern. Students moving up from the higher-rated elementary schools can expect comparable performance at the secondary level.
Parents comparing Lincoln to other small Illinois cities should weight the 62% figure carefully. When the majority of ranked schools in a district score 7 or better, the risk of landing in a below-average school is lower than in districts where one or two strong schools skew the citywide average. The city mean of 6.8 reflects some drag from the lower-ranked schools, but the distribution skews positive. Families beginning their search should put Chester-East Lincoln Elementary and West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary at the top of their visit list — both score within 0.1 points of each other and represent the strongest academic options available in the city.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 176 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 217 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.3 | ||
| 3 | 299 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.2 | ||
| 4 | 290 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 | ||
| 5 | 52 students · Pre-K–2nd | 7.2 | ||
| 6 | 229 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.9 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Zion Lutheran SchoolPrivate 54 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Carroll Catholic SchoolPrivate 102 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 312 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 779 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
Schools in Lincoln
Lincoln, Illinois · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$59,129
Median Home Value
$128,900
Median Rent
$807/mo
Population
18,364
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
63%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
15.9%
Community Profile
Lincoln has a median household income of $59,129. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $128,900, with a median rent of $807/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.9%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 1
Resources
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 Lincoln, Illinois
How many schools are in Lincoln, Illinois?
Lincoln has 10 schools, including 8 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lincoln, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lincoln is 6.6 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 Lincoln, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Central Elem School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lincoln, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Central Elem School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Lincoln, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Lincoln JR High School with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best high school in Lincoln, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Lincoln Comm High School with a composite score of 5.1/10.
How many school districts serve Lincoln, Illinois?
Lincoln is served by 4 school districts: Chester-East Lincoln Ccsd 61, Lincoln Esd 27, Lincoln Chsd 404, West Lincoln-Broadwell Esd 92.
What is the education level in Lincoln, Illinois?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Lincoln have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lincoln, Illinois?
The median household income in Lincoln is approximately $59,129 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lincoln, Illinois?
Yes, Lincoln has 2 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Zion Lutheran School with a score of 5.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lincoln, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lincoln is 12.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lincoln, 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.