Public schools in Dekalb, IL
11 open public schools with an address in Dekalb, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,690
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.3:1
Illinois median 13:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Dekalb public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in Dekalb, IL: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,690 students, an average of 569 per school. The largest campus is DeKalb High School (2,134 students), and the largest elementary school is Founders Elementary School (565).
Every listed school belongs to DeKalb CUSD 428. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.3:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 66% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Dekalb
Elementary schools in Dekalb
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Leroy A. Mitchell Elementary School DeKalb CUSD 428 | KG–05 | — | — | |
| Founders Elementary School DeKalb CUSD 428 | KG–05 | 565 | 14.6:1 | |
| Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch DeKalb CUSD 428 | KG–05 | 328 | 14:1 | |
| Jefferson Elem School DeKalb CUSD 428 | KG–05 | 308 | 11.2:1 | |
| Lincoln Elementary School DeKalb CUSD 428 | KG–05 | 272 | 15.9:1 | |
| Littlejohn Elem School DeKalb CUSD 428 | KG–05 | 362 | 15:1 |
Middle schools in Dekalb
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton Rosette Middle School DeKalb CUSD 428 | 06–08 | 575 | 12.2:1 | |
| Huntley Middle School DeKalb CUSD 428 | 06–08 | 865 | 11.9:1 |
High schools in Dekalb
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond One Barb Transition Center DeKalb CUSD 428 · Alternative School | 12–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| DeKalb High School DeKalb CUSD 428 | 09–12 | 2,134 | 15:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Dekalb
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb Early Learning and Development Center DeKalb CUSD 428 | PK–PK | 281 | 20.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White30.3%
- Hispanic33%
- Black27.9%
- Asian1.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Dekalb schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,690 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Dekalb
How many public schools are in Dekalb, IL?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in Dekalb: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 5,690 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Dekalb?
All listed public schools with an address in Dekalb belong to DeKalb CUSD 428. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Dekalb?
DeKalb High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Dekalb, with 2,134 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Dekalb?
No school with an address in Dekalb is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Illinois.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Dekalb schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Dekalb public schools is 14.3:1, higher than the Illinois school median of 13:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Dekalb guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Illinois cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Illinois cities