Total enrollment
23,759
-482 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
McLean County
Illinois · Public K-12
60 public K-12 schools operate inside McLean County, with roughly 23,759 students enrolled, an average of 396 per school. That works out to 32 elementary, 11 middle, and 17 high schools.
4-year change in McLean County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
54
-1 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How McLean County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Illinois | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 45.2% | #25 of 88 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 23,759 | #14 of 89 | #424 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 54 | #13 of 89 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.7:1 | #61 of 89 | #1,212 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 39.7% | #75 of 89 | #2,110 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 60.0% | #16 of 89 | #564 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.
McLean County school rankings
Residents
171,556
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
60
12 districts
Enrollment
23,759
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$79,905
Above Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.7%
Below Illinois avg
Elementary
32
11,048 students
Middle
11
5,247 students
High
17
7,464 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
McLean County USD 5
12,407 students · 12 districts in McLean County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of McLean 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+
47.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
34
21.2% under 18
Test scores in McLean County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 41 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Tri-Valley Elem School· 88.8%
- Towanda Elem School· 84.6%
- Lexington Jr High School· 81.8%
- Grove Elementary School· 79.0%
- Heyworth Jr-Sr High School· 77.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Cedar Ridge Elem School· 22.4%
- Sheridan Elem School· 22.4%
- Fox Creek Elementary School· 24.8%
- Irving Elementary School· 26.9%
- Ridgeview Jr High School· 28.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Community High School | Normal | High | 09-12 | 2,079 | · |
| Normal Community West High School | Normal | High | 09-12 | 1,590 | · |
| Bloomington High School | Bloomington | High | 09-12 | 1,369 | · |
| Bloomington Jr High School | Bloomington | Middle | 06-08 | 1,050 | · |
| Evans Junior High School | Bloomington | Middle | 06-08 | 778 | · |
| Kingsley Jr High School | Normal | Middle | 06-08 | 730 | · |
| University High School | Normal | High | 09-12 | 624 | · |
| Benjamin Elem School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 607 | · |
| Parkside Jr High School | Normal | Middle | 06-08 | 598 | · |
| Chiddix Jr High School | Normal | Middle | 06-08 | 597 | · |
| Grove Elementary School | Normal | Elementary | KG-05 | 519 | · |
| Olympia High School | Stanford | High | 09-12 | 495 | · |
| Heyworth Elem School | Heyworth | Elementary | PK-06 | 472 | · |
| Northpoint Elementary School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 472 | · |
| Sugar Creek Elem School | Normal | Elementary | PK-05 | 468 | · |
| Thomas Metcalf School | Normal | Elementary | PK-08 | 459 | · |
| Prairieland Elementary School | Normal | Elementary | KG-05 | 450 | · |
| Tri-Valley Middle School | Downs | Middle | 04-08 | 450 | · |
| Oakland Elementary School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 446 | · |
| Cedar Ridge Elem School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 418 | · |
| Colene Hoose Elem School | Normal | Elementary | KG-05 | 413 | · |
| LeRoy Elementary School | Le Roy | Elementary | PK-06 | 405 | · |
| Heyworth Jr-Sr High School | Heyworth | High | 07-12 | 401 | · |
| Bent Elem School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 389 | · |
| Oakdale Elem School | Normal | Elementary | KG-05 | 386 | · |
| Olympia Middle School | Stanford | Middle | 06-08 | 380 | · |
| Washington Elem School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 379 | · |
| EPG Middle School | Gridley | Middle | 05-08 | 345 | · |
| Tri-Valley High School | Downs | High | 09-12 | 329 | · |
| Parkside Elementary School | Normal | Elementary | PK-05 | 322 | · |
| Sheridan Elem School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 314 | · |
| Brigham Elementary | Bloomington | Elementary | PK-PK | 313 | · |
| Irving Elementary School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 303 | · |
| Stevenson Elem School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 299 | · |
| Tri-Valley Elem School | Downs | Elementary | PK-03 | 295 | · |
| Fox Creek Elementary School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 292 | · |
| Pepper Ridge Elementary School | Bloomington | Elementary | KG-05 | 287 | · |
| Fairview Elem School | Normal | Elementary | KG-05 | 280 | · |
| Olympia North Elem Sch | Danvers | Elementary | PK-05 | 279 | · |
| Glenn Elem School | Normal | Elementary | KG-05 | 272 | · |
| Sarah A Raymond Sch of Early Educ | Bloomington | Elementary | PK-PK | 260 | · |
| Ridgeview Elementary School | Colfax | Elementary | PK-05 | 247 | · |
| Prairie Central Primary West | Chenoa | Elementary | PK-01 | 244 | · |
| Lexington Elem School | Lexington | Elementary | PK-05 | 238 | · |
| LeRoy High School | Le Roy | High | 09-12 | 232 | · |
| Hudson Elem School | Hudson | Elementary | KG-05 | 216 | · |
| Towanda Elem School | Towanda | Elementary | KG-05 | 193 | · |
| Ridgeview High School | Colfax | High | 09-12 | 166 | · |
| Lexington High School | Lexington | High | 09-12 | 163 | · |
| Carlock Elem School | Carlock | Elementary | KG-05 | 111 | · |
| Lexington Jr High School | Lexington | Middle | 06-08 | 110 | · |
| Ridgeview Jr High School | Colfax | Middle | 06-08 | 107 | · |
| LeRoy Junior High School | Le Roy | Middle | 07-08 | 102 | · |
| YBMC Charter Sch | Normal | High | 11-12 | 16 | · |
| Bloomington Area Career Center | Bloomington | High | 10-12 | 0 | · |
| Central Illinois Bridge Academy | Normal | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| Eugene Field School | Normal | High | 12-12 | 0 | · |
| McClean Co Detention Center | Normal | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Regional Alop School | Bloomington | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| Safe School Program | Bloomington | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in McLean County
About McLean County
Across the middle-population Illinois county of McLean County of about 171,556 residents, the public-school footprint covers 60 schools and about 23,759 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $79,905, about 47% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%. That income level is 14% higher than the Illinois median.
Looking at the level breakdown, McLean County spans 32 elementary schools (11,048 students), 11 middle schools (5,247), and 17 high schools (7,464).
McLean County USD 5 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 12,407 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in McLean County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 24,241 students to 23,759. Over that span, McLean County closed 1 school, going from 55 to 54.
On this page, the community for McLean County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data