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

No. Use the McLean 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 McLean 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 McLean County?

Start with the 60 listed public schools and 9 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

McLean County Schools & Education

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

McLean County, Illinois

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

School Score

76/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

91.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,294

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

76/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#20

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: McLean County

Measured School Summary

McLean County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 76/100 and a graduation rate of 91.9%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

McLean County spends $10,294 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 21% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read McLean 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

60 public schools and 9 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

76/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #20 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

91.9%

3.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,294

$1,044 above the state average

School coverage

9 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

McLean County has 60 public schools across 9 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 McLean 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.

Large multi-district county

McLean County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#20

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 13 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.

McLean County USD 5

Elementary to high school visible

12,409 students

Elementary 16Middle 4High 5Other 1

26 listed schools in this county slice.

Bloomington SD 87

Elementary to high school visible

4,963 students

Elementary 6Middle 1High 1Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

Tri Valley CUSD 3

Elementary to high school visible

1,095 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

ISU Laboratory Schools

Elementary and high visible

1,045 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

McLean County USD 5 is the largest listed district slice, with 26 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 McLean County?

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

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

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

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

Education Overview

About Schools in McLean 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 Robust System of 60 Public Schools

McLean County supports 24,046 students across 60 public schools and nine districts. The infrastructure features a wide range of levels, including 30 elementary schools and 17 high schools.

McLean County USD 5 Leads Central Illinois

McLean County USD 5 is the largest district, serving 12,409 students across 26 schools. The county also hosts one charter school, which accounts for 1.7% of the total public schools in the region.

Diverse School Settings from City to Rural

The locale mix is highly diverse, with 15 city schools, 17 suburban, and 21 rural campuses. While Normal Community High School serves 2,131 students, the average school size across the county remains 437.

School Overview

Total Schools

in McLean County

Reported Enrollment

24,046

60 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

2% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary30

Middle11

High17

Other2

9 School Districts in McLean County

McLean County USD 5

Bloomington SD 87

Tri Valley CUSD 3

3 schools

1,095 students

ISU Laboratory Schools

2 schools

1,045 students

Heyworth CUSD 4

2 schools

898 students

LeRoy CUSD 2

3 schools

778 students

Ridgeview CUSD 19

3 schools

532 students

Lexington CUSD 7

3 schools

489 students

DeWitt/Livingstn/Logan/McLean ROE

6 schools

0 students

60 Public Schools in McLean County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 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

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Showing 20 of 60 matching schools

Public schools in McLean County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Normal Community High School	Profile	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	2,131
Normal Community West High School	Profile	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,628
Bloomington High School	Profile	Bloomington SD 87	Bloomington, 61701City: Small	9–12	High	1,503
Bloomington Jr High School	Profile	Bloomington SD 87	Bloomington, 61701City: Small	6–8	Middle	1,006
Kingsley Jr High School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	753
Evans Junior High School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Bloomington, 61704Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	742
Parkside Jr High School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	641
University High School	Record	ISU Laboratory Schools	Normal, 61790Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	620
Benjamin Elem School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Bloomington, 61705Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	613
Chiddix Jr High School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	594
Grove Elementary School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	513
Olympia High School	Record	Olympia CUSD 16	Stanford, 61774Rural: Distant	9–12	High	503
Heyworth Elem School	Record	Heyworth CUSD 4	Heyworth, 61745Town: Fringe	PK–6	Primary	490
Oakland Elementary School	Record	Bloomington SD 87	Bloomington, 61701City: Small	KG–5	Primary	466
Tri-Valley Middle School	Record	Tri Valley CUSD 3	Downs, 61736Rural: Fringe	4–8	Middle	463
Northpoint Elementary School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Bloomington, 61704City: Small	KG–5	Primary	456
LeRoy Elementary School	Record	LeRoy CUSD 2	Le Roy, 61752Town: Distant	PK–6	Primary	435
Prairieland Elementary School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	433
Colene Hoose Elem School	Record	McLean County USD 5	Normal, 61761Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	430
Thomas Metcalf School	Record	ISU Laboratory Schools	Normal, 61790Suburb: Midsize	PK–8	Primary	425

Normal Community High School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,131 students

Normal Community West High School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,628 students

Bloomington High School

Bloomington SD 87

Bloomington, 61701 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,503 students

Bloomington Jr High School

Bloomington SD 87

Bloomington, 61701 / City: Small

Profile6–8Middle1,006 students

Kingsley Jr High School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle753 students

Evans Junior High School

McLean County USD 5

Bloomington, 61704 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle742 students

Parkside Jr High School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle641 students

University High School

ISU Laboratory Schools

Normal, 61790 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High620 students

Benjamin Elem School

McLean County USD 5

Bloomington, 61705 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary613 students

Chiddix Jr High School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle594 students

Grove Elementary School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary513 students

Olympia High School

Olympia CUSD 16

Stanford, 61774 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High503 students

Heyworth Elem School

Heyworth CUSD 4

Heyworth, 61745 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary490 students

Oakland Elementary School

Bloomington SD 87

Bloomington, 61701 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary466 students

Tri-Valley Middle School

Tri Valley CUSD 3

Downs, 61736 / Rural: Fringe

Record4–8Middle463 students

Northpoint Elementary School

McLean County USD 5

Bloomington, 61704 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary456 students

LeRoy Elementary School

LeRoy CUSD 2

Le Roy, 61752 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary435 students

Prairieland Elementary School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary433 students

Colene Hoose Elem School

McLean County USD 5

Normal, 61761 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary430 students

Thomas Metcalf School

ISU Laboratory Schools

Normal, 61790 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–8Primary425 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,294

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review McLean 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 McLean County?

McLean County has a school score of 76/100, which is a higher 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 McLean County?

The high school graduation rate in McLean County is 91.9%, 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 McLean County spend per student?

McLean County spends $10,294 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 McLean County, Illinois — FAQ

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

McLean County supports 24,046 students across 60 public schools and nine districts. The infrastructure features a wide range of levels, including 30 elementary schools and 17 high schools.

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

McLean County USD 5 is the largest district, serving 12,409 students across 26 schools. The county also hosts one charter school, which accounts for 1.7% of the total public schools in the region.

What is the school experience like in McLean County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Lake County

Illinois

-0 pts

76/100

School score

Jasper County

Illinois

-0 pts

76/100

School score

Mercer County

Illinois

-0 pts

76/100

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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