Total enrollment
8,993
-650 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Boone County
Illinois · Public K-12
Boone County, Illinois hosts 17 public K-12 schools and around 8,993 students, averaging roughly 529 per campus. Belvidere Cusd 100 runs the largest share. By grade band, the county runs 9 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Boone County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
16
-2 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
47%
was 56%
% Hispanic
45%
was 35%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
17
2 districts
Enrollment
8,993
NCES CCD
Median income
$84,571
Above Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
53.4%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
9
3,886 students
Middle
4
2,090 students
High
4
3,017 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Belvidere CUSD 100
7,523 students · 2 districts in Boone County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Boone County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
23.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.4%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.8% under 18
Test scores in Boone County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Poplar Grove Elem School· 67.3%
- North Boone Middle School· 59.4%
- Caledonia Elem School· 49.5%
- North Boone Upper Elem Sch· 49.5%
- Manchester Elem School· 48.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Perry Elem School· 30.2%
- Meehan Elementary School· 30.4%
- Washington Academy· 30.9%
- Lincoln Elem School· 31.0%
- Belvidere South Middle School· 33.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvidere North High Sch | Belvidere | High | 09-12 | 1,354 | · |
| Belvidere High School | Belvidere | High | 09-12 | 1,167 | · |
| Belvidere Central Middle School | Belvidere | Middle | 06-08 | 911 | · |
| Belvidere South Middle School | Belvidere | Middle | 06-08 | 754 | · |
| Washington Academy | Belvidere | Elementary | PK-05 | 721 | · |
| Meehan Elementary School | Belvidere | Elementary | PK-05 | 688 | · |
| Seth Whitman Elem Sch | Belvidere | Elementary | KG-05 | 622 | · |
| Lincoln Elem School | Belvidere | Elementary | PK-05 | 573 | · |
| North Boone High School | Poplar Grove | High | 09-12 | 496 | · |
| Caledonia Elem School | Caledonia | Elementary | PK-05 | 449 | · |
| Perry Elem School | Belvidere | Elementary | PK-05 | 284 | · |
| Poplar Grove Elem School | Poplar Grove | Elementary | KG-04 | 251 | · |
| North Boone Middle School | Poplar Grove | Middle | 07-08 | 233 | · |
| North Boone Upper Elem Sch | Poplar Grove | Middle | 05-06 | 192 | · |
| Capron Elem School | Capron | Elementary | PK-04 | 162 | · |
| Manchester Elem School | Poplar Grove | Elementary | KG-04 | 136 | · |
| Everest High School | Belvidere | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Boone County
About Boone County
Boone County is a small county of about 53,230 residents in Illinois. Its public-school system serves approximately 8,993 students across 17 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $84,571 a year, roughly 24% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 20% higher than the Illinois median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Boone County is made up of 9 elementary schools (3,886 students), 4 middle schools (2,090), and 4 high schools (3,017).
Belvidere CUSD 100 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 7,523 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 7%: 9,643 students in SY 2017-18 versus 8,993 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Boone County lost 2 schools, going from 18 to 16. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment expanded from 35% to 45%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Boone County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Boone County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data