Byron Cusd 226, IL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Byron Cusd 226

Byron CUSD 226 is a small district in Ogle County serving pre-kindergarten through grade twelve across three schools. The district enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a growing Hispanic population representing roughly one in thirteen students. The total enrollment sits at roughly fifteen hundred students spread across elementary, middle, and high school buildings.

The district's finances rest on a foundation that has recently stabilized after years of uncertainty. The Byron nuclear generating station, which supplies a substantial share of the district's property tax revenue, faced closure in 2021 before Illinois's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act provided a subsidy extending the plant's operation. A 2023 settlement between the plant's operator and local taxing bodies ended years of property tax appeals, removing the threat of refunds or assessment cuts. For families considering the area, this means the district's largest revenue source is now on firmer footing through the plant's licensed operating years ahead.

State testing results from the most recent school year show mixed performance across grade levels and subjects. In early elementary grades, reading proficiency is solid, with third-grade students achieving proficiency at rates near or above nine in ten. Mathematics proficiency in third grade is similarly strong. Performance becomes more variable as students move into the middle grades. Fourth-grade math proficiency falls to below six in ten, and by sixth and seventh grades, math proficiency drops further, with sixth-grade students achieving proficiency at rates below five in ten. Reading performance holds more steadily through the middle grades and strengthens again in sixth grade, where proficiency reaches near nine in ten. The pattern suggests that students encounter a shift in mathematical difficulty around grades four and five that the district may want to examine more closely. Science results available for grades five and eight both show proficiency in the mid-to-high range, with eighth-grade students showing stronger results.

The district's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Ogle County's school districts, indicating that despite grade-level variation, Byron performs above the median for its county peers when proficiency rates are averaged across subjects and grades. Per-pupil spending sits in the upper half of the middle range for county districts, suggesting the district invests moderately compared to its neighbors. Chronic absenteeism is above the county median, appearing in roughly one in six students, a figure that may merit attention as a school climate or engagement matter.

Housing values in the district's service area have appreciated at rates above the state benchmark, with median home values in the mid-to-high two-hundred-thousands across the district's zip codes. Rental costs are lower, making the area accessible to families seeking rural or semi-rural living with stability. The local economy shows unemployment rates in line with national figures and median household income in the mid-eighty-thousands.

The data available does not include graduation rates, free-and-reduced-price lunch counts, English learner enrollment, or special education counts, gaps that reflect reporting constraints rather than suggesting those populations are absent from the district. A parent weighing a move here should look into those student support details directly with the district offices, as they shape the school environment and available resources.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,459

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 8%

Black 1%

White 86%

Asian 0%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

69%

—

Gr 4

39%

—

Gr 5

68%

—

Gr 6

79%

—

Gr 7

76%

—

Gr 8

66%

—

Math

Gr 3

69%

—

Gr 4

31%

—

Gr 5

74%

—

Gr 6

36%

—

Gr 7

32%

—

Gr 8

17%

—

Science

Gr 5

60%

—

Gr 8

55%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

Byron High School 9-12

Byron Middle School

Mary Morgan Elem Sch

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

89%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

70%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

50%

Grade 7

43%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

69%

Grade 3

66%

Grade 4

76%

Grade 5

89%

Grade 6

83%

Grade 7

75%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

65%

Grade 5

73%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$242,805

Year-over-year change+9.8%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$118K to $278K

vs. state typical0.84x

vs. national typical0.66x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
61010	Byron	$270K	+9.4%	60.6%
61047		$224K	+10.3%	19.1%
61061	Oregon	$227K	+11.1%	10.1%
61102	Rockford	$118K	+10.1%	7.0%
61054	Mount Morris	$151K	+9.9%	3.0%
61088	Winnebago	$278K	+7.9%	0.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,561/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
61102	Rockford	$1,561	—	7.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,225/mo

Home price / national median income2.9x

Annual rent / national median income22.4%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$336/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$290,210 (+4.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.