Payson Community Unit School District 1

406 W State St
Payson, IL 62360-1041
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public schools serving 479 students in Payson Community Unit School District 1. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Payson Community Unit School District 1 have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 12% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 10% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
2 Schools
4,394 Schools
# Students
479 Students
1,845,459 Students
# Teachers
40 Teachers
136,638 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Payson Community Unit School District 1, which is ranked within the bottom 50% 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 85% has increased from 80% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#640 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
22%
27%
14%
30%
45-49%
50%
85%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.18
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
6%
% Hispanic
2%
28%
% Black
1%
17%
% White
90%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,616 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,423. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,689 is less than the state median of $21,662. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$8 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$7 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,616
$22,423
Spending / Student
$14,689
$21,662

Best Payson Community Unit School District 1 Public Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Seymour Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
404 W State St
Payson, IL 62360
(217) 656-3323
Gr: PK-6 | 250 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Seymour High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
420 W Brainard St
Payson, IL 62360
(217) 656-3355
Gr: 7-12 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Payson Community Unit School District 1?
Payson Community Unit School District 1 manages 2 public schools serving 479 students.
What is the rank of Payson Community Unit School District 1?
Payson Community Unit School District 1 is ranked #647 out of 864 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Payson Community Unit School District 1?
90% of Payson Community Unit School District 1 students are White, 7% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Payson Community Unit School District 1?
Payson Community Unit School District 1 has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is lower than the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Payson Community Unit School District 1's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,689 is less than the state median of $21,662. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 479 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 10%
  • : 85% (Top 50% in IL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 22% (Btm 50%)
  • : 14% (Btm 50%)
  • : 45-49% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

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