Average
#1500 of 3,813 schools in IL
Top 39% in state
Prairie Central Elem School
Elementary School · Prairie Central Cusd 8 · Fairbury, IL
A Prairie Central Cusd 8 elementary school serving grades 2nd – 4th.
600 S 1st St, Fairbury, IL 61739
- Math 35% proficient (2021)
- Reading 25% proficient (2022)
- 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Prairie Central Elem School score 30% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 17 points since 2019, to 25% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
44%
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 Prairie Central Elem School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 22Car-Dependent
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Low197/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Fairbury), 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
$68,635
Median home value
$160,400
Median rent
$753/mo
College educated
21.1%
Homeownership
70.8%
Poverty rate
3.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 61739; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 in Prairie Central CUSD 8
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Prairie Central Cusd 8
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #3 of 6
- District spending per student
- $15,986NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Prairie Central Elem School is listed in Prairie Central CUSD 8; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Prairie Central Elem School
Prairie Central Elem School is a public elementary school in Fairbury, IL, part of Prairie Central Cusd 8, serving approximately 368 students in grades 2nd-4th with a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,500 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Prairie Central Elem School
What grades does Prairie Central Elem School serve?
Prairie Central Elem School serves students in grades 2nd through 4th.
How many students attend Prairie Central Elem School?
Prairie Central Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 368 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Central Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Central Elem School is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Prairie Central Elem School rank in IL?
Prairie Central Elem School ranks #1,500 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Prairie Central Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?
Prairie Central Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 Prairie Central Elem School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Prairie Central Elem School has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Prairie Central Elem School a charter school?
No, Prairie Central Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Prairie Central Elem School a Title I school?
No, Prairie Central Elem School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Central Elem School?
44.0% of students at Prairie Central Elem 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
- 2nd – 4th
- Enrollment
- 368
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Livingston County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.4%
- Phone
- (815) 692-2623
- Area population (ZIP 61739)
- 4,673
- Area average commute
- 15.9 min
- Area median age
- 37.3
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 61739; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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