Needs Improvement
#3581 of 3,813 schools in IL
Founders Elementary School
Elementary School · Dekalb Cusd 428 · Dekalb, IL
A Dekalb Cusd 428 elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
821 S 7th St, Dekalb, IL 60115
- Math 8% proficient (2021)
- Reading 9% proficient (2022)
- 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Founders Elementary School score 8% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 70 points across the 12-year record (2011–2022) and has held near 9% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 26% (multi-year average, 2011-2021) · reading/ELA 26% (multi-year average, 2011-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 23 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
76.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Founders Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Chicago map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 53Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 62Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,910/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Dekalb), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$46,808
Median home value
$205,700
Median rent
$1,018/mo
College educated
35.8%
Homeownership
42.8%
Poverty rate
26.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60115; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–5 | 0.4 mi | 267 | Compare → |
| Tyler Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 280 | Compare → |
| Littlejohn Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.4 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 361 | Compare → |
| Malta Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | K–5 | Not available | 287 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Dekalb Cusd 428
- Schools in district
- 12
- Rank in district
- #9 of 12
- District spending per student
- $18,665NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Founders Elementary School is listed in DeKalb CUSD 428; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Founders Elementary School
Founders Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dekalb, IL, part of Dekalb Cusd 428, serving approximately 543 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #3,581 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2021) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Founders Elementary School
What grades does Founders Elementary School serve?
Founders Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Founders Elementary School?
Founders Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 543 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Founders Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Founders Elementary School is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Founders Elementary School rank in IL?
Founders Elementary School ranks #3,581 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Founders Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Founders Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Founders Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Founders Elementary School has 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2021) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2022).
Is Founders Elementary School a charter school?
No, Founders Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Founders Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Founders Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Founders Elementary School?
76.2% of students at Founders Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 543
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- DeKalb County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.9%
- Phone
- (815) 754-3800
- Area population (ZIP 60115)
- 42,461
- Area average commute
- 22.9 min
- Area median age
- 26
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 60115; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2011-2021, multi-year average, 2011-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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