Brigham Elementary

Set in Bloomington, Illinois, Brigham Elementary is a cozy elementary-level community, run under McLean County USD 5. It works with 313 students across grade pre-K.

Within McLean County USD 5, which oversees 24 schools and 12,407 students, Brigham Elementary is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, Brigham Elementary reports that the largest single group is White at 26%, but no single group is in the majority. The remainder breaks down as 26% Black, 23% Hispanic, 13% multiracial, 12% Asian. That is noticeably less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 78%.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Brigham Elementary has 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Brigham Elementary higher than the state norm the norm. About 63% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against McLean County (around 40%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

Around the school, community-level numbers for McLean County indicate median household income runs about $79,905, 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Brigham Elementary is one of 60 public schools in McLean County (combined enrollment of about 23,759 students).

Cedar Ridge Elem School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.4 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The school occupies a city-core site.

Over the past 7-year window. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked up 85%: 169 students in 2018 compared to 313 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share declined from 38% to 26%. The student-to-teacher ratio loosened from 13.9:1 in 2018 to 17.4:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.