Morton Community Unit School District 709

1050 S 4th Ave Ste 200
Morton, IL 61550-2502
(District boundaries shown in map)
10/
10
Top 10%

Top Rankings

Morton Community Unit School District 709 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,670 students in Morton Community Unit School District 709. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public elementary schools in Illinois.
Public Elementary Schools in Morton Community Unit School District 709 have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the Illinois public elementary school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
7 Schools
3,102 Schools
# Students
3,260 Students
1,187,593 Students
# Teachers
216 Teachers
89,912 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Morton Community Unit School District 709, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 864 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 93% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#62 out of 865 school districts
(Top 10%)
47%
27%
57%
30%
71%
50%
94%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.22
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
2%
6%
% Hispanic
4%
28%
% Black
2%
17%
% White
89%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,838 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,423. The school district revenue/student has declined by 28% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,947 is less than the state median of $21,662. The school district spending/student has declined by 26% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$46 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,838
$22,423
Spending / Student
$13,947
$21,662

Best Morton Community Unit School District 709 Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Morton Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
260 E Queenwood Rd
Morton, IL 61550
(309) 263-2581
Gr: K-12
Rank: #22.
Grundy Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1100 S 4th Ave
Morton, IL 61550
(309) 263-1421
Gr: PK-6 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #33.
Lettie Brown Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2550 N Morton Ave
Morton, IL 61550
(309) 266-5309
Gr: K-6 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
100 S Nebraska Ave
Morton, IL 61550
(309) 266-6989
Gr: PK-6 | 518 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #55.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
220 E Jefferson St
Morton, IL 61550
(309) 263-2650
Gr: PK-6 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%

Recent Articles

Back-to-School Tech & Online Learning Readiness Checklist
Back-to-School Tech & Online Learning Readiness Checklist
A 2026 guide to back-to-school tech & online learning readiness, helping families prepare devices, connectivity, skills, and safety.
How Public Schools Prepare for College in High School
How Public Schools Prepare for College in High School
Learn how public schools prepare for college and what parents should look for as students begin high school. Updated for 2026.
School Choice in 2026: What Parents Must Know
School Choice in 2026: What Parents Must Know
Explore how school choice is reshaping U.S. education in 2026, with updated trends, enrollment data, costs, policies, and practical guidance for parents.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,260 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 12%
  • : 94% (Top 10% in IL)
  • : Top 10%
  • : 47% (Top 10%)
  • : 57% (Top 10%)
  • : 71% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Quick Links