Dakota Cusd 201

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Dakota, Illinois - 2 schools

An equity score of 31/100 ranks Dakota Cusd 201 #542 of 763 districts in Illinois (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,403 per pupil, Dakota Cusd 201 ranks #560 of 848 Illinois districts by per-pupil spending (Illinois districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

756
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$14,403
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Dakota Cusd 201 operates 2 public schools serving 756 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Illinois. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Stephenson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,403 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 848 Illinois districts by per-pupil spending. See how Illinois compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 52.1% local, 39.4% state, and 8.5% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 31/100, ranked #542 of 763 in Illinois against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 344:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 28.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.1% White, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Dakota Elementary School, enrolling 410 students (54% of the district's total enrollment).

Dakota Elementary School accounts for 54.2% of all Dakota Cusd 201 student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Dakota Cusd 201 a distant remainder — means Dakota Cusd 201-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Dakota Cusd 201 student-counselor ratio is 344:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Dakota Cusd 201 is typically wider than the Dakota Cusd 201-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Dakota Cusd 201 chronic absenteeism rate is 28.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Dakota Cusd 201 is typically wider than the Dakota Cusd 201-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.5%
Federal
39.4%
State
52.1%
Local

Funding Equity

31
Equity Score
542 / 763
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Dakota Cusd 201.

White 91.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.9%
Multiracial 4.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
344:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Dakota Cusd 201

School Enrollment
Dakota Elementary School
410
Dakota Jr Sr High School
344

How Dakota Cusd 201 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Illinois districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Peoria Heights Cusd 325 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Forrestville Valley Cusd 221 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Somonauk Cusd 432 Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
W Harvey-Dixmoor Psd 147 Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
West Central Cusd 235 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Dakota Cusd 201's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Illinois

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

City of Chicago Sd 299
321,666 students · 644 schools · $21,050/pupil
Compare vs Dakota Cusd 201 →
Sd U-46
35,082 students · 58 schools · $17,947/pupil
Compare vs Dakota Cusd 201 →
Rockford Sd 205
27,442 students · 45 schools · $17,721/pupil
Compare vs Dakota Cusd 201 →
Indian Prairie Cusd 204
25,687 students · 33 schools · $17,239/pupil
Compare vs Dakota Cusd 201 →
Plainfield Sd 202
24,856 students · 31 schools · $15,235/pupil
Compare vs Dakota Cusd 201 →

Compare Dakota Cusd 201

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs City of Chicago Sd 299 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Dakota Cusd 201?

Dakota Cusd 201 has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 756 students.

How much does Dakota Cusd 201 spend per student?

Dakota Cusd 201 spends $14,403 per student. The district has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #542 in Illinois.

What is the demographic composition of Dakota Cusd 201?

Dakota Cusd 201 students are 91.1% White, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Dakota Cusd 201?

Dakota Cusd 201 has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #542 out of 763 districts in Illinois.