What share of students in Illinois are proficient in math?

In 2024, 32% of eighth graders in Illinois public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (9th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 33% in reading, compared with 34% and 35% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Illinois, United States: official figures

87.3% of public high school students in Illinois graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 19th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

87.3%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

214

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

277

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$21,776

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,846,264

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

39.2%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Illinois rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Illinois was 87.3% in 2021-22, compared with 82% in 2011-12 and 86.2% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Illinois?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Illinois was 80.0% for economically disadvantaged students, 71.9% for students with disabilities and 76.8% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Illinois?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Illinois was 79.5% for Black, 85.1% for Hispanic and 90.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Illinois score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Illinois averaged 214 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 218 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 30% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Illinois score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Illinois averaged 262 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 6th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 265 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 33% scored at or above Proficient and 30% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Illinois score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Illinois averaged 236 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 237 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 38% scored at or above Proficient and 26% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Illinois score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Illinois averaged 277 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 16th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 283 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 38% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Illinois spend per student?

Public school systems in Illinois spent $21,776 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Illinois going up?

Current spending per pupil in Illinois rose from $16,227 in fiscal 2019 to $21,776 in fiscal 2024, up 34.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.5%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Illinois spend school money on?

Of the $21,776 spent per pupil in Illinois in fiscal 2024, $12,761 went on instruction and $8,413 on support services; salaries and wages came to $10,734 per pupil and employee benefits $6,839.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Illinois come from?

Public school systems in Illinois received $48.0 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 10.3% from the federal government, 38.6% from the state and 51.1% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Illinois spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Illinois was $46.2 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $40.7 billion was current spending and $4.4 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $23.8 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Illinois?

1,846,264 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Illinois in fall 2023, down 5.0% on fall 2019 (1,943,117) and down 10.7% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Illinois?

Public schools in Illinois had 135,363 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.7 pupils per teacher, joint 19th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Illinois in fall 2019: 14.6).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Illinois have a college degree?

39.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Illinois, about 3,472,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 13th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.1 percentage points on 2021 (37.1%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Illinois have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 15.9% of adults 25 and over in Illinois had a graduate or professional degree and 8.6% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Illinois did not finish high school?

90.7% of adults 25 and over in Illinois had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 9.3% without one; that share is 20th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Illinois compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Illinois ranks 20 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
17	Indiana	87.7%
18	New Hampshire	87.7%
19	Florida	87.3%
20	Illinois	87.3%
21	Nebraska	87.1%
22	California	87.0%
23	Pennsylvania	87.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Illinois ranks 23 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
20	Delaware	81.0%
21	Oregon	80.7%
22	Pennsylvania	80.1%
23	Illinois	80.0%
24	North Carolina	79.5%
25	Nebraska	79.0%
26	New Jersey	78.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Illinois ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
24	Wisconsin	215
25	South Carolina	215
26	Iowa	215
27	Illinois	214
28	Georgia	214
29	Virginia	214
30	Minnesota	214

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Illinois ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
3	Colorado	265
4	New Hampshire	264
5	Connecticut	263
6	Illinois	262
7	Indiana	262
8	Utah	261
9	Iowa	261

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Illinois ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
28	Iowa	237
29	Kansas	237
30	Rhode Island	237
31	Illinois	236
32	Georgia	236
33	Alabama	236
34	Michigan	235

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Illinois ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
13	Colorado	278
14	Idaho	278
15	Wyoming	278
16	Illinois	277
17	Connecticut	277
18	Pennsylvania	276
19	North Carolina	276

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Illinois ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
6	South Dakota	33.3%
7	Colorado	32.5%
8	Nebraska	32.5%
9	Illinois	32.3%
10	Ohio	32.1%
11	Montana	32.1%
12	New Hampshire	32.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Illinois ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
20	Nevada	41.4%
21	Maryland	40.8%
22	New York	40.7%
23	Illinois	40.7%
24	Georgia	40.6%
25	South Carolina	40.3%
26	Kansas	40.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Illinois ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
8	New Hampshire	$22,978
9	Delaware	$22,201
10	Rhode Island	$22,110
11	Illinois	$21,776
12	Pennsylvania	$21,091
13	Alaska	$21,004
14	California	$20,791

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Illinois ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
17	Virginia	+35.3%
18	South Carolina	+35.2%
19	Alabama	+35.2%
20	Illinois	+34.2%
21	Arkansas	+33.5%
22	Maryland	+33.4%
23	New Jersey	+32.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Illinois ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
7	Missouri	53.7%
8	Ohio	53.6%
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%
10	Illinois	51.1%
11	Maine	51.0%
12	New York	50.9%
13	Texas	50.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Illinois ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
28	Iowa	14.1
29	Nebraska	13.8
30	South Dakota	13.8
31	Illinois	13.7
32	Wisconsin	13.7
33	Montana	13.7
34	Virginia	13.6

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Illinois ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
36	Michigan	-4.6%
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%
39	Illinois	-5.0%
40	Kentucky	-5.0%
41	Vermont	-5.0%
42	California	-5.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Illinois ranks 13 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
10	New York	41.2%
11	Washington	41.0%
12	Minnesota	40.0%
13	Illinois	39.2%
14	Utah	39.1%
15	Rhode Island	39.0%
16	California	38.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Illinois ranks 20 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
17	Rhode Island	9.6%
18	Tennessee	9.4%
19	Indiana	9.4%
20	Illinois	9.3%
21	North Carolina	9.1%
22	South Carolina	9.0%
23	Massachusetts	8.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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