Dekalb Cusd 428 School District
School District · Dekalb, Illinois
Avg Rating
4.8
out of 10
Schools
12
8 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
6,719
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Avg Rating
4.8
out of 10
Schools
12
8 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
6,719
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
How this district compares
Illinois rank
#601 of 637
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.6
below Illinois avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,665
+$1,975 vs Illinois median
District size
6,719 students
Much larger than Illinois median
The short answer
Dekalb Cusd 428 ranks #601 of 637 Illinois districts by overall school rating. Dekalb Cusd 428's schools with real test data average 4.8/10 across 11 schools. Its top-rated schools are Jefferson Elem School (7.6/10), Founders Elementary School (5.7/10), and Cortland Elementary School (5.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.6/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Cusd 428 schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Dekalb Cusd 428 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Dekalb Cusd 428
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (11 of 12). "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 | Cortland Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Littlejohn Elem School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Huntley Middle School | 5.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Clinton Rosette Middle School | 4.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Dekalb High School | 4.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch | 4.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Lincoln Elementary School | 3.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Malta Elementary School | 3.8 / 10 |
See all 12 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Dekalb Cusd 428
Dekalb Cusd 428 is a Dekalb, Illinois school district serving 12 schools.The district educates 6,719 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1. District-level spending was $18,665 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 4.8/10, Dekalb Cusd 428 demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Jefferson Elem School, which has a composite score of 7.6/10.
In standardized testing, Dekalb Cusd 428 students show an average math proficiency of 25.2% and ELA proficiency of 27.1%.
The district includes 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Dekalb Cusd 428, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Dekalb Cusd 428 with test data.
Schools in Dekalb Cusd 428
12 schoolsElementary Schools8
Middle Schools2
High Schools1
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Illinois
- City
- Dekalb
- Total Enrollment
- 6,719
- Teachers (FTE)
- 467
- District spending per student
- $18,665NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Dekalb Cusd 428?
Dekalb Cusd 428 has 12 schools in total — 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Dekalb Cusd 428?
The average composite rating for Dekalb Cusd 428 is 4.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Dekalb Cusd 428?
Dekalb Cusd 428's district-level spending was $18,665 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dekalb Cusd 428?
The average student-teacher ratio in Dekalb Cusd 428 is 14.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Dekalb Cusd 428?
Jefferson Elem School is the highest-rated school in Dekalb Cusd 428 with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What are the test scores in Dekalb Cusd 428?
Across schools in Dekalb Cusd 428 with test data, the average math proficiency is 25.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 27.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Dekalb Cusd 428 compare to other districts in Illinois?
Dekalb Cusd 428 has an average school rating of 4.8/10 across 12 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Illinois by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 4.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 25.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 27.1%
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 rateOther School Districts in IL
Compare Dekalb Cusd 428 with neighboring districts in the state.
- Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 (643)
- Sd U-46 (56)
- Rockford Sd 205 (45)
- Springfield Sd 186 (35)
- Indian Prairie Cusd 204 (34)
- Peoria Sd 150 (32)
- Plainfield Sd 202 (31)
- Cusd 300 (29)
- Schaumburg Ccsd 54 (28)
- Mclean County USD 5 (26)
- Cusd 308 (22)
- Joliet Psd 86 (22)
- Naperville Cusd 203 (22)
- Waukegan Cusd 60 (22)
- Aurora East USD 131 (20)
- Champaign Cusd 4 (20)
- Cusd 200 (20)
- Palatine Ccsd 15 (20)
- Valley View Cusd 365u (20)
- St Charles Cusd 303 (18)
- Aurora West USD 129 (17)
- Evanston Ccsd 65 (17)
- Decatur Sd 61 (16)
- Cicero Sd 99 (15)
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.
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