Chester-East Lincoln Elem School IL (2026 List)

About Chester-East Lincoln Elem School

Chester-East Lincoln Elem School is located at 1300 1500th Street, Lincoln, IL 62656, serving a rural-edge Logan County area outside the city core. It serves students in prekindergarten through grade 8, combining elementary and middle-grade learning on one campus. Enrollment is 299 students, giving the school a small public-campus profile within Chester-East Lincoln CCSD 61. The student–teacher ratio is 14:1, based on current federal enrollment and staffing data. The student body is 51% male and 49% female. State testing shows 27% math proficiency and 42% reading proficiency. Chester-East Lincoln operates as a regular non-charter public school in a single-school district, with PK–8 continuity shaping its structure. Its structural anchor gives families one defined local pathway from early learning through middle grades. Local housing values average $130,597, keeping Lincoln’s market accessible compared with many Illinois communities. Compared with larger regional campuses, Chester-East Lincoln presents a small-district public profile for families reviewing a best elementary school in Illinois pathway.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 27%

Reading 42%

State average proficiency is 27% in Math and 42% in Reading.

22

Full-time Teachers

14 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

299

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 90.3%

Asian 0.67%

Hispanic 3.01%

Black 1.34%

Two+ Races 4.68%

Native Am. 0%

White

90.3%

Asian

0.67%

Hispanic

3.01%

Black

1.34%

Two+ Races

4.68%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 299

48.83%

146 Female

51.17%

153 Male

Student Population

299 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 14 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

299 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Chester-East Lincoln Elem School Contact Information

Address

1300 1500th St, Lincoln, IL 62656

View on Map

Phone

(217) 732-4136

Call Now

Website

http://www.cel61.com

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:15 AM - 3:00 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Chester-East Lincoln Elem School has some school and family news to share now including announcements for a fishing derby, band demonstration, student registration, breakfast/lunch, TeacherEase, and supply lists for the 2025-2026 school year. This information can be very helpful to families in helping to prepare and make sure their children are connected to the right things in the classroom and outside of school.

FAQ

Q1. What are the family resources available at Chester-East Lincoln Elem School?

Ans. Chester-East Lincoln Elem School offers handbooks, TeacherEase access, breakfast and lunch information, school supply lists and registration help for families.

Q2. Are there extracurricular activities at Chester-East Lincoln Elem School?

Ans. Chester-East Lincoln Elem School provides information on athletics, band, eligibility, and student participation activities.

Q3. What support does Chester-East Lincoln Elem School provide for student behavior?

Ans. Chester-East Lincoln Elem School gives info on PBIS and restorative practice to support positive choices, responsibility and respectful school routines.

Q4. Does Chester-East Lincoln Elem School have health and safety resources?

Ans. Chester-East Lincoln Elem School offers health forms, snack policy information, concussion information, bullying information, and family support information.

Q5. What makes Chester-East Lincoln Elem School attractive to families?

Ans. Chester-East Lincoln Elem School is a one-campus public environment with community identity, family tools, student activities and ongoing district support.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say