Champaign Cusd 4, IL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Champaign Cusd 4

Champaign CUSD 4 serves a substantial student population across the PreK-12 grades in central Illinois. The district encompasses more than a dozen schools, ranging from early childhood and elementary buildings through three middle schools and two high schools. The student body is diverse: roughly a third white, a third Black, and the remainder split among Hispanic students, Asian students, and students identifying as two or more races. The district does not report free-and-reduced-price lunch counts, enrollment in special education, or English learner counts in the available data.

The district's state test results show proficiency rates that are below the midpoint among Champaign County's districts. In math, proficiency ranges from roughly a quarter to around two-fifths of students at the elementary and early middle grades, then drops significantly at grades six through eight before recovering slightly at grade seven. The pattern is consistent with many districts: earlier grades show higher rates, the middle school transition brings a dip, and results vary by grade. In English language arts, proficiency tends to fall in the upper thirties to low forties across grades three through eight, with grade eight showing the strongest performance. Science proficiency data is available for only grades five and eight, showing rates in the low to mid-thirties. Participation rates in state assessments are uniformly high, above ninety-eight percent across subjects and grades.

The district faces a chronic absenteeism rate that sits below the midpoint among county peers, meaning more of its students miss substantial school time than the county median would suggest. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for the county, indicating the district devotes more resources per student than most neighboring districts.

Two structural changes shape the current enrollment landscape. In early 2023, the Unit 4 Board adopted "Schools of Choice, Scenario 4," which eliminated the district's balanced calendar and converted Garden Hills Elementary and International Prep Academy into PreK-8 buildings. This reshuffling reassigned a portion of students to different schools and altered grade configurations in ways that persist. Families considering the district will encounter this new structure in elementary school assignments and building composition.

The district has embraced AVID, the Advancement Via Individual Determination college-readiness framework, as a pedagogical foundation. All three middle schools now hold AVID National Demonstration School status, and AVID strategies such as focused note-taking, vocabulary work, and text annotation have been embedded into classroom practice across a growing number of schools. This reflects a deliberate shift in how teaching and learning are approached at the classroom level.

Housing in the district's service area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks. Weighted home values fall in the mid-range for Illinois, with annual appreciation modest. Rental costs are approximately seven and a half percent above their year-prior levels. Monthly mortgage payments on a typical home are substantial relative to the area's median household income, and monthly rent consumes a significant portion of household income, making housing costs a real consideration for families relocating to the area.

The district operates across multiple towns, including Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, serving a mid-sized community anchored by university presence. Available data do not include the district's graduation rate, four-year cohort outcomes, or a breakdown of advanced academic offerings such as Advanced Placement courses or dual-credit pathways. A parent exploring the district may want to contact the schools directly for information on high school curriculum breadth and post-secondary options.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,363

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 16%

Black 38%

White 30%

Asian 8%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

19%

—

Gr 4

23%

—

Gr 5

21%

—

Gr 6

21%

—

Gr 7

21%

—

Gr 8

28%

—

Math

Gr 3

20%

—

Gr 4

17%

—

Gr 5

13%

—

Gr 6

—

Gr 7

10%

—

Gr 8

—

Science

Gr 5

15%

—

Gr 8

17%

—

Schools in this District

20 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bottenfield Elem School

Carrie Busey Elem School

Centennial High School

Central High School

Dr Howard Elem School

Garden Hills Elem School

Edison Middle School

Jefferson Middle School

Kenwood Elem School

Robeson Elem School

Washington Elem School

Westview Elem School

Champaign Early Chldhd Cntr

Stratton Elementary School

Vernon L Barkstall Elementary Sch

Franklin Middle School

South Side Elementary School

Novak Academy

International Prep Academy

ACTIONS Program

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

38%

Grade 3

35%

Grade 4

28%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 6

31%

Grade 7

22%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

35%

Grade 3

40%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

44%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

32%

Grade 5

33%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$305,635

Year-over-year change+5.5%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$181K to $356K

vs. state typical1.05x

vs. national typical0.83x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
61822	Champaign	$329K	+5.4%	74.8%
61821	Champaign	$203K	+5.9%	9.6%
61820	Champaign	$181K	+6.1%	7.1%
61874	Savoy	$356K	+5.3%	6.3%
61802	Urbana	$220K	+7.8%	1.7%
61801	Urbana	$190K	+6.3%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,623/mo

Year-over-year change+7.6%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$1,099 to $1,720/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
61822	Champaign	$1,720	—	74.8%
61821	Champaign	$1,401	+8.4%	9.6%
61820	Champaign	$1,099	+6.2%	7.1%
61874	Savoy	$1,441	—	6.3%
61802	Urbana	$1,477	+8.8%	1.7%
61801	Urbana	$1,418	+5.2%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,542/mo

Home price / national median income3.6x

Annual rent / national median income23.3%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$81/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.