Most realtors in Bloomington-Normal IL are often asked the same important question by home buyers: “Where are the best schools in my area?”. When home buyers ask this, they are making sure their house is in a neighborhood that is safe enough for their children to attend a good, quality school.

Finding the right school for your children can be just as important as a number of other factors when buying a home in Bloomington-Normal. It is also a good selling point when you are looking to sell your home. According to the National Association of Realtors, 25% of home buyers listed school quality, and 19% listed proximity to schools as deciding factors in their home purchase.

Aside from the proximity to your home, other factors that weigh in when choosing the right school for your children include Student to Teacher ratio, highlighted subjects to which the school exceed in, and their yearly test score ratings given by the Illinois Board of Education (IBE) through the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT).  

For the home buyer who is conscious about his kids’ education, the Bloomington-Normal area is the perfect place to settle. These two cities are centers in education, proudly showcasing their highly-rated elementary and high schools, and higher education institutions like the Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) and the Illinois State University (ISU).

Much of Bloomington-Normal’s population, therefore, are students. Some are college students, but what most home buyers are interested in are the exceptional elementary and high schools in the area. This is why realty agents here have so much to boast about the cities’ great schools.

Bloomington-Normal has two very good school systems: The Bloomington District 87 and the Unit 5 School District in Normal.  As of January 2012, Bloomington District 87 has a high school, a junior high school, six elementary schools and one early education school. Approximately 5,600 students are enrolled in this district from the Bloomington-Normal area. On the other hand, two high schools, four junior high schools and 17 elementary schools make up Normal District 5 as of January 2012. This district enrolls approximately 11,000 students from Bloomington-Normal and the surrounding areas.

And when we say very good schools, we mean incredible. For example, Northpoint Elementary, which is part of the McLean County USD 5 in Normal, is found by the Chicago Sun-Times to be in the 93.5 percentile among the 2000+ elementary schools rated in the entire state, based on its ISAT scores on all Math, Science and Reading subjects.

Outlined here are the other of the top elementary, middle schools and high schools in Bloomington District 87 and McLean USD 5.

MCLEAN COUNTY USD 5

Elementary Schools:

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Northpoint Elementary School
2602 E. College Ave.
Bloomington IL 61704
(309) 557-4420

Bloomington's Northpoint Elementary School serves grades K-5 in the McLean County Unified School District 5. It is among the few public elementary schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished 10 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

School Highlights: Computer arts; P.E. classes; Science and Technology
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 17
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 4th Grade Reading, Science and Math, respectively: 91%, 99%, 100%
Planned Capacity: 585
Original Construction: 1988
Additions: 1999
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Fox Creek Elementary School
3910 Timberwolf Trail
Bloomington, IL 61705
309.557.4416

Fox Creek Elementary School serves grades PK-5. It has a greatschools.org rating of 8 out of 10.

School Highlights: Academic contests; Band; Basketball
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 5th Grade Reading, Math, respectively: 94%, 96%
Planned Capacity: 500
Original Construction: 2001
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Prairieland Elementary
1300 East Raab Road
Normal, IL 61761
(309)557-4424

Normal's Prairieland Elementary School serves grades K-5 in the McLean County Unified School District 5. It is among the few public elementary schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished greatschools.org rating of 9 out of 10.

School Highlights: Computer arts; Science and Technology; Mathematics
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 4th Grade Reading, Science and Math, respectively: 94%, 97%, 97%
Planned Capacity: 600
Original Construction: 1999
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Grove Elementary
1101 North Airport Road
Normal, IL 61761
(309)557-4417

Grove Elementary School, located in Normal, Illinois, serves grades K-5 in the McLean County Unified School District 5. It is among the few public elementary schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished greatschools.org rating of 9 out of 10.

School Highlights: Academic Contests; Bands; P.E. Classes
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 4th Grade Reading, Science and Math, respectively: 90%, 92%, 98%
Planned Capacity: 500
Original Construction: 2001
Additions: 2006
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Sugar Creek Elementary
200 North Towanda Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
(309)557-4425

Normal's Sugar Creek Elementary School serves grades PK-5 in the McLean County Unified School District 5. It is among the few public schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished greatschools.org rating of 8 out of 10.

Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 4th Grade Science and Math, respectively: 97%, 94%
Planned Capacity: 295
Original Construction: 1974
Additions: 2010
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Middle Schools:

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Normal Community High School
3900 East Raab Rd
Normal, IL 61761
(309)557-4401

Normal Community High School serves grades 9-12 in the McLean County Unified School District 5. It is among the few public high schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished greatschools.org rating of 8 out of 10. The school community has reviewed this school and given it an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

School Highlights: Academic Contests; Badminton; Band
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 PSAE Rating for 11th Grade Reading, Science and Math, respectively: 61%, 66%, 62%
Planned Capacity: 1800
Original Construction: 2003
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Stevenson Elementary School
2106 Arrowhead Dr
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309)663-2351

Bloomington's Stevenson Elementary School serves grades K-5 in the Bloomington School District 87. It is among the few public elementary schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished greatschools.org rating of 9 out of 10.

School highlights: Academic contests; Band; Basketball
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 4th Grade Reading, Science and Math, respectively: 92%, 93%, 96%
View Chicago Sun-Times Report Card

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Washington Elementary School
1201 E Washington St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 829-7034

Bloomington's Washington Elementary School serves grades K-5 in the Bloomington School District 87. It is among the few public elementary schools in Illinois to receive a distinguished greatschools.org rating of 8 out of 10.

School highlights: Band; P.E. Classes, Science and Technology
Student to FTE (Full-time equivalent) Teacher ratio: 16
2011 IBE-ISAT Rating for 4th Grade Reading, Science and Math, respectively: 87%, 92%, 95%

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Middle School:

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