Total enrollment
5,273
-125 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Livingston County
Illinois · Public K-12
Public education in Livingston County reaches 5,273 students across 24 schools. Prairie Central Cusd 8 is the largest district at 1,468 students. By level, that breaks down as 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 7 high schools.
4-year change in Livingston County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
21
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Livingston County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Illinois | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 37.8% | #61 of 88 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,273 | #39 of 89 | #1,281 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 21 | #32 of 89 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.1:1 | #4 of 89 | #312 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 47.8% | #62 of 89 | #1,735 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 30.8% | #42 of 89 | #1,774 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Livingston County school rankings
Residents
35,565
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
24
14 districts
Enrollment
5,273
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,790
Above Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.8%
Below Illinois avg
Elementary
14
2,783 students
Middle
3
792 students
High
7
1,698 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Prairie Central CUSD 8
1,468 students · 14 districts in Livingston County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Livingston 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+
19.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.9% under 18
Test scores in Livingston County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Graymont Elem School· 71.4%
- Prairie Central Upper Elementary· 70.3%
- Prairie Central Jr High School· 62.0%
- Cornell Elem School· 60.0%
- Prairie Central Elem School· 59.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Woodland Elementary/Jr High Sch· 33.5%
- Lincoln Elementary School· 33.6%
- Pontiac Jr High School· 40.2%
- Washington Elem School· 40.7%
- Flanagan Elem School· 42.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac High School | Pontiac | High | 09-12 | 658 | · |
| Dwight Common School | Dwight | Elementary | PK-08 | 519 | · |
| Prairie Central High School | Fairbury | High | 09-12 | 487 | · |
| Prairie Central Elem School | Fairbury | Elementary | 02-04 | 367 | · |
| Central Elem School | Pontiac | Elementary | PK-01 | 361 | · |
| Pontiac Jr High School | Pontiac | Middle | 06-08 | 326 | · |
| Woodland Elementary/Jr High Sch | Streator | Elementary | PK-08 | 320 | · |
| Prairie Central Jr High School | Forrest | Middle | 07-08 | 250 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Pontiac | Elementary | 02-03 | 227 | · |
| Washington Elem School | Pontiac | Elementary | 04-05 | 221 | · |
| Prairie Central Upper Elementary | Forrest | Middle | 05-06 | 216 | · |
| Dwight High School | Dwight | High | 09-12 | 211 | · |
| Flanagan Elem School | Flanagan | Elementary | PK-08 | 197 | · |
| Odell Grade School | Odell | Elementary | PK-08 | 155 | · |
| Prairie Central Primary East | Chatsworth | Elementary | PK-01 | 148 | · |
| Woodland High School | Streator | High | 09-12 | 138 | · |
| Cornell Elem School | Cornell | Elementary | PK-08 | 114 | · |
| Flanagan-Cornell High School | Flanagan | High | 09-12 | 106 | · |
| Saunemin Elem School | Saunemin | Elementary | PK-08 | 102 | · |
| Tri-Point High School | Cullom | High | 09-12 | 98 | · |
| Graymont Elem School | Graymont | Elementary | KG-08 | 52 | · |
| Livingston Area Career Cntr | Pontiac | High | 10-12 | 0 | · |
| Livingston Co Crossroads Academy | Flanagan | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Livingston County Academy | Flanagan | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Livingston County
About Livingston County
Livingston County is a sparse Illinois county of about 35,565 residents, home to 24 public schools and roughly 5,273 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $73,790 a year, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% higher than the Illinois median.
On the school-mix side, Livingston County spans 14 elementary schools (2,783 students), 3 middle schools (792), and 7 high schools (1,698).
The largest single district in Livingston County is Prairie Central CUSD 8, which alone enrolls about 1,468 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,273 students, stayed largely flat from the 5,398 reported in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Livingston County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data