East Central Reporter

White students were the largest ethnic group in Douglas County in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 2,731 students attending Douglas County schools, 78.9% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 16.3% of Douglas County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Douglas County, representing 80.1% of the student body.

Arcola Elementary School and Villa Grove Elementary School had the most diverse student body in Douglas County, including Hispanic, multiracial, and white.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s budget for fiscal year 2026 will increase from nearly $10.8 billion to about $11.2 billion. This includes a $307 million boost for K–12 schools, marking the smallest annual increase since 2020.

The agency has paused about $50 million in funding previously allocated through the Evidence-Based Funding formula for the Property Tax Relief Grant while reviewing its impact on local tax relief. Officials say the pause could affect the timing and amount of property tax relief available to taxpayers.

School name	Most prevalent ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Arcola Elementary School	White	47.4%	407
Arcola High School	White	49.1%	281
Arthur Grade School	White	80.9%	256
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School	White	90.4%	280
East Prairie Middle School	White	91.5%	272
North Ward Elementary School	White	89.8%	324
Tuscola High School	White	90.9%	287
Villa Grove Elementary School	White	88.6%	325
Villa Grove High School	White	93.4%	198
Villa Grove Junior High School	White	88.1%	101

Information in this story was obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education. The source data can be found here.