Public schools in Downers Grove, IL
17 open public schools with an address in Downers Grove, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,204
17 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.2:1
Illinois median 13:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Downers Grove public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Downers Grove, IL: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high. The 17 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,204 students, an average of 600 per school. The largest campus is Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch (2,591 students), and the largest elementary school is Lester Elem School (531).
Downers Grove GSD 58 operates the most schools here (13), and 3 regular districts have at least one Downers Grove campus. 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 15.2:1, 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.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 16% 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 Downers Grove
Elementary schools in Downers Grove
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Aire Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 276 | 15.2:1 | |
| El Sierra Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 300 | 12.1:1 | |
| Fairmount Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 342 | 17.4:1 | |
| Henry Puffer School Downers Grove GSD 58 | PK–06 | 271 | 10.3:1 | |
| Highland Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 352 | 16.1:1 | |
| Hillcrest Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 382 | 16.2:1 | |
| Indian Trail Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | PK–06 | 325 | 9.8:1 | |
| Kingsley Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 359 | 12.9:1 | |
| Lester Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 531 | 17.6:1 | |
| Pierce Downer Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 337 | 16.4:1 | |
| Prairieview Elementary School Center Cass SD 66 | 03–05 | 380 | 16.5:1 | |
| Whittier Elem School Downers Grove GSD 58 | KG–06 | 307 | 16.9:1 |
Middle schools in Downers Grove
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herrick Middle School Downers Grove GSD 58 | 07–08 | 626 | 15.8:1 | |
| Lakeview Jr High School Center Cass SD 66 | 06–08 | 340 | 11:1 | |
| O Neill Middle School Downers Grove GSD 58 | 07–08 | 403 | 13.7:1 |
High schools in Downers Grove
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comm H S Dist 99 - North H S CHSD 99 | 09–12 | 2,082 | 13.7:1 | |
| Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch CHSD 99 | 09–12 | 2,591 | 14.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White67.8%
- Hispanic15.3%
- Black5.5%
- Asian6.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 17 Downers Grove schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,204 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Downers Grove
How many public schools are in Downers Grove, IL?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Downers Grove: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 10,204 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Downers Grove?
Schools with an address in Downers Grove belong to 3 education agencies, led by Downers Grove GSD 58 (13 schools), Center Cass SD 66 (2 schools), CHSD 99 (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Downers Grove?
Comm H S Dist 99 - South High Sch reported the largest high-school enrollment in Downers Grove, with 2,591 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Downers Grove?
No school with an address in Downers Grove 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 Downers Grove schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Downers Grove public schools is 15.2:1, 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 Downers Grove 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