Public schools in Normal, IL
19 open public schools with an address in Normal, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
19
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,803
19 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14:1
Illinois median 13:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Normal public schools
The federal directory lists 19 public schools in Normal, IL: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 7 high. The 19 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,803 students, an average of 516 per school. The largest campus is Normal Community High School (2,079 students), and the largest elementary school is Grove Elementary School (519).
McLean County USD 5 operates the most schools here (16), and 2 regular districts have at least one Normal campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 14:1, 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.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 37% 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 Normal
Elementary schools in Normal
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colene Hoose Elem School McLean County USD 5 | KG–05 | 413 | 11:1 | |
| Fairview Elem School McLean County USD 5 | KG–05 | 280 | 17.1:1 | |
| Glenn Elem School McLean County USD 5 | KG–05 | 272 | 16.5:1 | |
| Grove Elementary School McLean County USD 5 | KG–05 | 519 | 17.6:1 | |
| Oakdale Elem School McLean County USD 5 | KG–05 | 386 | 13.9:1 | |
| Parkside Elementary School McLean County USD 5 | PK–05 | 322 | 14:1 | |
| Prairieland Elementary School McLean County USD 5 | KG–05 | 450 | 15.4:1 | |
| Sugar Creek Elem School McLean County USD 5 | PK–05 | 468 | 18.5:1 | |
| Thomas Metcalf School ISU Laboratory Schools | PK–08 | 459 | 8.7:1 |
Middle schools in Normal
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiddix Jr High School McLean County USD 5 | 06–08 | 597 | 12.9:1 | |
| Kingsley Jr High School McLean County USD 5 | 06–08 | 730 | 14:1 | |
| Parkside Jr High School McLean County USD 5 | 06–08 | 598 | 11.9:1 |
High schools in Normal
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Illinois Bridge Academy DeWitt/Livingstn/Logan/McLean ROE · Alternative School | 06–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Eugene Field School McLean County USD 5 | 12–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| McClean Co Detention Center McLean County USD 5 · Alternative School | 06–12 | 0 | — | |
| Normal Community High School McLean County USD 5 | 09–12 | 2,079 | 15.2:1 | |
| Normal Community West High School McLean County USD 5 | 09–12 | 1,590 | 15.1:1 | |
| University High School ISU Laboratory Schools | 09–12 | 624 | 15:1 | |
| YBMC Charter Sch McLean County USD 5 · Charter | 11–12 | 16 | 4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White56.3%
- Hispanic11.4%
- Black15.6%
- Asian8.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial8.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 Normal schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,803 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Normal
How many public schools are in Normal, IL?
The current NCES directory lists 19 open public schools with a location address in Normal: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 7 high. Together they reported 9,803 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Normal?
Schools with an address in Normal belong to 3 education agencies, led by McLean County USD 5 (16 schools), ISU Laboratory Schools (2 schools), DeWitt/Livingstn/Logan/McLean ROE (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Normal?
Normal Community High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Normal, with 2,079 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Normal?
Yes. 1 of the 19 public schools in Normal are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including YBMC Charter Sch. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Normal schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Normal public schools is 14:1, 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 Normal 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