River Bend Cusd 2

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.

Fulton, Illinois - 4 schools

An equity score of 18/100 ranks River Bend Cusd 2 #724 of 763 districts in Illinois (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,709 per pupil, River Bend Cusd 2 ranks #730 of 848 Illinois districts by per-pupil spending (Illinois districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

942
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$12,709
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

River Bend Cusd 2 operates 4 public schools serving 942 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Illinois. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 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 Whiteside County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,709 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 51.8% local, 36.9% state, and 11.3% 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 18/100, ranked #724 of 763 in Illinois against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 311:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 19.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.0% White, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Fulton Elem School, with a diversity index of 25.7/100.

Its largest campus is Fulton Elem School, enrolling 421 students (42% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Early Step Pre-School, at 65 students, a 6x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Fulton Elem School accounts for 42.2% of all River Bend Cusd 2 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means River Bend Cusd 2-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

River Bend Cusd 2 school enrollment varies 6.5× across entities

River Bend Cusd 2 school enrollment ranges from 65 students (lowest) to 421 students (highest), a spread of 356 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

River Bend Cusd 2 student-counselor ratio is 311:1 — 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 River Bend Cusd 2 is typically wider than the River Bend Cusd 2-aggregate figure suggests.

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

River Bend Cusd 2 chronic absenteeism rate is 19.0% — 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 River Bend Cusd 2 is typically wider than the River Bend Cusd 2-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

11.3%
Federal
36.9%
State
51.8%
Local

Funding Equity

18
Equity Score
724 / 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 4 schools in River Bend Cusd 2.

White 90.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 18.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across River Bend Cusd 2's schools, below the Illinois average of 38.9.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Fulton Elem School 25.7
  2. 2 River Bend Middle School 19.4
  3. 3 Fulton High School 16.5
  4. 4 Early Step Pre-School 11.9

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
311:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in River Bend Cusd 2

School Enrollment
Fulton Elem School
421
Fulton High School
284
River Bend Middle School
228
Early Step Pre-School
65

How River Bend Cusd 2 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Illinois districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Peru Esd 124 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
United Cusd 304 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Chester Cusd 139 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
West Northfield Sd 31 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Bureau Valley Cusd 340 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to River Bend Cusd 2'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 River Bend Cusd 2 →
Sd U-46
35,082 students · 58 schools · $17,947/pupil
Compare vs River Bend Cusd 2 →
Rockford Sd 205
27,442 students · 45 schools · $17,721/pupil
Compare vs River Bend Cusd 2 →
Indian Prairie Cusd 204
25,687 students · 33 schools · $17,239/pupil
Compare vs River Bend Cusd 2 →
Plainfield Sd 202
24,856 students · 31 schools · $15,235/pupil
Compare vs River Bend Cusd 2 →

Compare River Bend Cusd 2

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 River Bend Cusd 2?

River Bend Cusd 2 has 4 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 942 students.

How much does River Bend Cusd 2 spend per student?

River Bend Cusd 2 spends $12,709 per student. The district has an equity score of 18/100, ranking #724 in Illinois.

What is the demographic composition of River Bend Cusd 2?

River Bend Cusd 2 students are 90.0% White, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for River Bend Cusd 2?

River Bend Cusd 2 has an equity score of 18/100, ranking #724 out of 763 districts in Illinois.