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5.6avg / 10

Mercer County School District 404

School District · Joy, Illinois

Students: 1,265
Teachers (FTE): 105

Avg Rating

5.6

out of 10

Schools

5

2 elem, 1 mid, 1 high

Enrollment

1,265

Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

How this district compares

Illinois rank

#482 of 637

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.8

below Illinois avg

Per-pupil spending

$15,828

$862 vs Illinois median

District size

1,265 students

Typical than Illinois median

The short answer

Mercer County School District 404 ranks #482 of 637 Illinois districts by overall school rating. Mercer County School District 404's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are New Boston Elem School (7.8/10), Apollo Elem School (5.2/10), and Mercer County High School (4.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
New Boston Elem School

STAAR proficiency rose +6.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Mercer County School District 404 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Mercer County School District 404

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 5). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#SchoolRating
1New Boston Elem School7.8 / 10
2Apollo Elem School5.2 / 10
3Mercer County High School4.8 / 10
4Mercer County JR High School4.6 / 10

See all 5 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Mercer County School District 404

Mercer County School District 404 is a Joy, Illinois school district serving 5 schools.The district educates 1,265 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. District-level spending was $15,828 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 5.6/10, Mercer County School District 404 demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is New Boston Elem School, which has a composite score of 7.8/10.

In standardized testing, Mercer County School District 404 students show an average math proficiency of 30.1% and ELA proficiency of 40.6%.

The district includes 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

District Map

Schools in Mercer County School District 404, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency30.1%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency40.6%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Mercer County School District 404 with test data.

Schools in Mercer County School District 404

5 schools

District Details

State
Illinois
City
Joy
Total Enrollment
1,265
Teachers (FTE)
105
District spending per student
$15,828NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate
12.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Mercer County School District 404?

Mercer County School District 404 has 5 schools in total — 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Mercer County School District 404?

The average composite rating for Mercer County School District 404 is 5.6/10. 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 Mercer County School District 404?

Mercer County School District 404's district-level spending was $15,828 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 Mercer County School District 404?

The average student-teacher ratio in Mercer County School District 404 is 12:1.

What is the top-rated school in Mercer County School District 404?

New Boston Elem School is the highest-rated school in Mercer County School District 404 with a composite score of 7.8/10.

What are the test scores in Mercer County School District 404?

Across schools in Mercer County School District 404 with test data, the average math proficiency is 30.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 40.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Mercer County School District 404 compare to other districts in Illinois?

Mercer County School District 404 has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 5 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
5.6/10
Math Proficiency
30.1%
ELA Proficiency
40.6%

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 rate

Other School Districts in IL

Compare Mercer County School District 404 with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in IL →

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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