Can I use DeKalb County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the DeKalb County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in DeKalb County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in DeKalb County?

Start with the 42 listed public schools and 8 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

DeKalb County Schools & Education

Name: DeKalb County, Illinois Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

DeKalb County, Illinois

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

66/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

89.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

89.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,471

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

66/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#41

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: DeKalb County

Measured School Summary

DeKalb County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.8%.

Funding Context

DeKalb County spends $9,471 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 4% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read DeKalb County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

42 public schools and 8 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

66/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #41 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

89.8%

1.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,471

$221 above the state average

School coverage

8 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

DeKalb County has 42 public schools across 8 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What DeKalb County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

DeKalb County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#41

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

DeKalb CUSD 428

Elementary to high school visible

6,840 students

Elementary 8Middle 2High 1Other 1

12 listed schools in this county slice.

Sycamore CUSD 427

Elementary to high school visible

3,598 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 1Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Sandwich CUSD 430

Elementary to high school visible

1,895 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Genoa Kingston CUSD 424

Elementary to high school visible

1,544 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

DeKalb CUSD 428 is the largest listed district slice, with 12 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in DeKalb County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different DeKalb County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in DeKalb County, Illinois

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Large and Diverse School Network

DeKalb County manages a robust system of 42 public schools, including 23 elementary and 11 high schools. Over 16,300 students are enrolled across eight active school districts.

DeKalb and Sycamore District Leaders

DeKalb CUSD 428 is the largest district by far, serving 6,840 students across 12 schools. Sycamore CUSD 427 also maintains a significant presence with seven schools and 3,598 students.

Suburban Reach and Rural Roots

The county features a mix of 23 suburban and 13 rural schools, creating diverse educational settings. DeKalb High School is the county's largest campus with 2,083 students, while the average school size across the county is 418.

School Overview

Total Schools

in DeKalb County

Reported Enrollment

16,302

42 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary23

Middle7

High11

Other1

8 School Districts in DeKalb County

DeKalb CUSD 428

Sycamore CUSD 427

Sandwich CUSD 430

6 schools

1,895 students

Genoa Kingston CUSD 424

4 schools

1,544 students

Somonauk CUSD 432

3 schools

750 students

Indian Creek CUSD 425

3 schools

711 students

Hiawatha CUSD 426

2 schools

420 students

De Kalb ROE

3 schools

0 students

42 Public Schools in DeKalb County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 42 matching schools

Public schools in DeKalb County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
DeKalb High School	Profile	DeKalb CUSD 428	Dekalb, 60115Suburb: Small	9–12	High	2,083
Sycamore High School	Profile	Sycamore CUSD 427	Sycamore, 60178Suburb: Small	9–12	High	1,191
Huntley Middle School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	Dekalb, 60115Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	934
Sycamore Middle School	Record	Sycamore CUSD 427	Sycamore, 60178Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	822
Clinton Rosette Middle School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	DeKalb, 60115Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	615
Sandwich Community High School	Record	Sandwich CUSD 430	Sandwich, 60548Suburb: Large	9–12	High	569
Founders Elementary School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	Dekalb, 60115Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	556
Cortland Elementary School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	Cortland, 60112Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	519
Genoa-Kingston High School	Record	Genoa Kingston CUSD 424	Genoa, 60135Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	509
North Grove Elementary School	Record	Sycamore CUSD 427	Sycamore, 60178Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	467
Sandwich Middle School	Record	Sandwich CUSD 430	Sandwich, 60548Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	438
Littlejohn Elem School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	DeKalb, 60115Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	356
Genoa-Kingston Middle School	Record	Genoa Kingston CUSD 424	Genoa, 60135Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	353
Kingston Elementary School	Record	Genoa Kingston CUSD 424	Kingston, 60145Town: Fringe	PK–2	Primary	344
Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	Dekalb, 60115Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	342
Genoa Elementary School	Record	Genoa Kingston CUSD 424	Genoa, 60135Town: Fringe	3–5	Primary	338
Hinckley-Big Rock Elem Sch	Record	Hinckley Big Rock CUSD 429	Hinckley, 60520Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	337
Jefferson Elem School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	Dekalb, 60115Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	319
Tyler Elementary School	Record	DeKalb CUSD 428	De Kalb, 60115Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	309
South Prairie Elementary School	Record	Sycamore CUSD 427	Sycamore, 60178Suburb: Small	PK–5	Primary	306

DeKalb High School

DeKalb CUSD 428

Dekalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High2,083 students

Sycamore High School

Sycamore CUSD 427

Sycamore, 60178 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High1,191 students

Huntley Middle School

DeKalb CUSD 428

Dekalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle934 students

Sycamore Middle School

Sycamore CUSD 427

Sycamore, 60178 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle822 students

Clinton Rosette Middle School

DeKalb CUSD 428

DeKalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle615 students

Sandwich Community High School

Sandwich CUSD 430

Sandwich, 60548 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High569 students

Founders Elementary School

DeKalb CUSD 428

Dekalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary556 students

Cortland Elementary School

DeKalb CUSD 428

Cortland, 60112 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary519 students

Genoa-Kingston High School

Genoa Kingston CUSD 424

Genoa, 60135 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High509 students

North Grove Elementary School

Sycamore CUSD 427

Sycamore, 60178 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary467 students

Sandwich Middle School

Sandwich CUSD 430

Sandwich, 60548 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle438 students

Littlejohn Elem School

DeKalb CUSD 428

DeKalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary356 students

Genoa-Kingston Middle School

Genoa Kingston CUSD 424

Genoa, 60135 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle353 students

Kingston Elementary School

Genoa Kingston CUSD 424

Kingston, 60145 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary344 students

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch

DeKalb CUSD 428

Dekalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary342 students

Genoa Elementary School

Genoa Kingston CUSD 424

Genoa, 60135 / Town: Fringe

Record3–5Primary338 students

Hinckley-Big Rock Elem Sch

Hinckley Big Rock CUSD 429

Hinckley, 60520 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary337 students

Jefferson Elem School

DeKalb CUSD 428

Dekalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary319 students

Tyler Elementary School

DeKalb CUSD 428

De Kalb, 60115 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary309 students

South Prairie Elementary School

Sycamore CUSD 427

Sycamore, 60178 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary306 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,471

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review DeKalb County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Illinois counties have the highest graduation rates?

Edwards County (97.0%), Hamilton County (97.0%), and Johnson County (96.3%) currently lead Illinois among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Illinois?

Across Illinois counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,250. The highest current county values are Lake County ($12,962), DuPage County ($12,349), and Jo Daviess County ($12,337). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in DeKalb County?

DeKalb County has a school score of 66/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in DeKalb County?

The high school graduation rate in DeKalb County is 89.8%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does DeKalb County spend per student?

DeKalb County spends $9,471 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in DeKalb County, Illinois — FAQ

What does the school system look like in DeKalb County, Illinois?

DeKalb County manages a robust system of 42 public schools, including 23 elementary and 11 high schools. Over 16,300 students are enrolled across eight active school districts.

What are the major school districts in DeKalb County, Illinois?

DeKalb CUSD 428 is the largest district by far, serving 6,840 students across 12 schools. Sycamore CUSD 427 also maintains a significant presence with seven schools and 3,598 students.

What is the school experience like in DeKalb County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Edgar County

Illinois

0 pts

66/100

School score

Monroe County

Illinois

0 pts

66/100

School score

Ford County

Illinois

-0 pts

65/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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