What is the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) model?

State funding formulas calculate an 'adequacy target' for each district based on student needs (poverty, English learners, special education) and compare it to available local resources. Districts furthest from their target receive the most new state funding.

What does the funding gap mean?

The funding gap is the difference between what a district needs (its adequacy target) and what it currently receives from all sources. A district at 90% of its adequacy target has a 10% funding gap. States aim to bring all districts to at least 90% adequacy over time.

How are EBF tiers determined?

Districts are grouped into four tiers based on their percentage of adequacy: Tier 1 (below 70%), Tier 2 (70-90%), Tier 3 (90-100%), and Tier 4 (above 100%). New state funding flows primarily to Tier 1 and Tier 2 districts to close the biggest gaps first.

Joliet, IL School Funding Gaps & Adequacy

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School Funding — FY2026i

NCES

State funding formulas determine whether your school districts have enough money. Here's where they stand.

How School Funding Works

State funding formulas calculate an Adequacy Target for each district, the estimated cost to provide an adequate education. Districts are then compared against that target.

Districts are assigned to Tiers 1-4 based on their percentage of adequacy. Tier 1 districts (most underfunded) receive the largest share of new state funding.

Tier 1: Below 60% of adequacy

Tier 2: 60% to below 90% of adequacy

Tier 3: 90% to below 100% of adequacy

Tier 4: At or above 100% of adequacy

Source: State Education Funding Data

Avg % of Adequacyi

79.9%

Adequacy Gapi

$284.6M

Funding vs. Needi

Plainfield School Dist 20278.59%

$286.1M funded$364.0M target

Oswego Comm Unit School Dist 30878.31%

$189.5M funded$242.0M target

Joliet School Dist 8679.1%

$128.8M funded$162.9M target

Yorkville Comm Unit SCH Dist 11575.8%

$75.8M funded$99.9M target

Joliet Twp HS Dist 20473.96%

$90.7M funded$122.7M target

Lincoln Way Comm H S Dist 21079.31%

$81.1M funded$102.3M target

New Lenox School Dist 12287.44%

$55.5M funded$63.5M target

Minooka Comm Cons S Dist 20189.04%

$51.3M funded$57.6M target

Troy Comm Cons SCH Dist 30c90.52%

$50.9M funded$56.2M target

Lockport Twp HS Dist 20587.84%

$52.6M funded$59.9M target

Minooka Comm H S District 11182.6%

$36.3M funded$44.0M target

Manhattan School Dist 11470.94%

$18.2M funded$25.6M target

Richland School Dist 88a94.38%

$11.3M funded$11.9M target

Laraway C C School Dist 70c2.38%

$15.8M funded$6.6M target

Elwood C C SCH Dist 203127.03%

$5.4M funded$4.3M target

Fairmont School District 8997.21%

$4.5M funded$4.6M target

Rockdale School District 84129.63%

$5.3M funded$4.1M target

Union School Dist 812.07%

$4.4M funded$2.1M target

District Detail

Plainfield School Dist 202Tier 2

78.59% funded$77.9M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $364.0M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $286.1M in resources — that's 78.59% of what it needs. There's a $77.9M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$364.0M

What it hasi

$286.1M

From the statei

$141.0M

This district is better funded than 45% of districts statewide.

Oswego Comm Unit School Dist 308Tier 2

78.31% funded$52.5M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $242.0M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $189.5M in resources — that's 78.31% of what it needs. There's a $52.5M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$242.0M

What it hasi

$189.5M

From the statei

$112.0M

This district is better funded than 44% of districts statewide.

Joliet School Dist 86Tier 2

79.1% funded$34.1M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $162.9M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $128.8M in resources — that's 79.1% of what it needs. There's a $34.1M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$162.9M

What it hasi

$128.8M

From the statei

$108.5M

This district is better funded than 46% of districts statewide.

Yorkville Comm Unit SCH Dist 115Tier 2

75.8% funded$24.2M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $99.9M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $75.8M in resources — that's 75.8% of what it needs. There's a $24.2M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$99.9M

What it hasi

$75.8M

From the statei

$33.5M

This district is better funded than 33% of districts statewide.

Joliet Twp HS Dist 204Tier 2

73.96% funded$31.9M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $122.7M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $90.7M in resources — that's 73.96% of what it needs. There's a $31.9M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$122.7M

What it hasi

$90.7M

From the statei

$25.3M

This district is better funded than 25% of districts statewide.

Lincoln Way Comm H S Dist 210Tier 2

79.31% funded$21.2M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $102.3M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $81.1M in resources — that's 79.31% of what it needs. There's a $21.2M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$102.3M

What it hasi

$81.1M

From the statei

$15.3M

This district is better funded than 48% of districts statewide.

New Lenox School Dist 122Tier 2

87.44% funded$8.0M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $63.5M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $55.5M in resources — that's 87.44% of what it needs. There's a $8.0M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$63.5M

What it hasi

$55.5M

From the statei

$5.7M

This district is better funded than 63% of districts statewide.

Minooka Comm Cons S Dist 201Tier 2

89.04% funded$6.3M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $57.6M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $51.3M in resources — that's 89.04% of what it needs. There's a $6.3M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$57.6M

What it hasi

$51.3M

From the statei

$16.1M

This district is better funded than 65% of districts statewide.

Troy Comm Cons SCH Dist 30cTier 3

90.52% funded$5.3M gap

90-100% of adequacy — receives limited new state funding

The state estimates it costs $56.2M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $50.9M in resources — that's 90.52% of what it needs. There's a $5.3M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$56.2M

What it hasi

$50.9M

From the statei

$5.4M

This district is better funded than 66% of districts statewide.

Lockport Twp HS Dist 205Tier 2

87.84% funded$7.3M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $59.9M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $52.6M in resources — that's 87.84% of what it needs. There's a $7.3M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$59.9M

What it hasi

$52.6M

From the statei

$3.9M

This district is better funded than 64% of districts statewide.

Minooka Comm H S District 111Tier 2

82.6% funded$7.7M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $44.0M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $36.3M in resources — that's 82.6% of what it needs. There's a $7.7M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$44.0M

What it hasi

$36.3M

From the statei

$9.7M

This district is better funded than 57% of districts statewide.

Manhattan School Dist 114Tier 2

70.94% funded$7.5M gap

60-90% of adequacy — receives moderate new state funding

The state estimates it costs $25.6M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $18.2M in resources — that's 70.94% of what it needs. There's a $7.5M gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$25.6M

What it hasi

$18.2M

From the statei

$8.3M

This district is better funded than 14% of districts statewide.

Richland School Dist 88aTier 3

94.38% funded$670K gap

90-100% of adequacy — receives limited new state funding

The state estimates it costs $11.9M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $11.3M in resources — that's 94.38% of what it needs. There's a $670K gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$11.9M

What it hasi

$11.3M

From the statei

$1.2M

This district is better funded than 70% of districts statewide.

Laraway C C School Dist 70cTier 1

2.38% funded

Below 60% of adequacy — receives the largest share of new state funding

The state estimates it costs $6.6M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $15.8M in resources — that's 2.38% of what it needs. This district meets or exceeds its funding target.

What it needsi

$6.6M

What it hasi

$15.8M

From the statei

$1.0M

This district is better funded than 1% of districts statewide.

Elwood C C SCH Dist 203Tier 4

127.03% funded

At or above 100% of adequacy — fully funded

The state estimates it costs $4.3M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $5.4M in resources — that's 127.03% of what it needs. This district meets or exceeds its funding target.

What it needsi

$4.3M

What it hasi

$5.4M

From the statei

$320K

This district is better funded than 93% of districts statewide.

Fairmont School District 89Tier 3

97.21% funded$129K gap

90-100% of adequacy — receives limited new state funding

The state estimates it costs $4.6M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $4.5M in resources — that's 97.21% of what it needs. There's a $129K gap between what the district has and what it needs.

What it needsi

$4.6M

What it hasi

$4.5M

From the statei

$1.7M

This district is better funded than 73% of districts statewide.

Rockdale School District 84Tier 4

129.63% funded

At or above 100% of adequacy — fully funded

The state estimates it costs $4.1M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $5.3M in resources — that's 129.63% of what it needs. This district meets or exceeds its funding target.

What it needsi

$4.1M

What it hasi

$5.3M

From the statei

$673K

This district is better funded than 93% of districts statewide.

Union School Dist 81Tier 1

2.07% funded

Below 60% of adequacy — receives the largest share of new state funding

The state estimates it costs $2.1M to adequately educate all students in this district. The district currently has $4.4M in resources — that's 2.07% of what it needs. This district meets or exceeds its funding target.

What it needsi

$2.1M

What it hasi

$4.4M

From the statei

$131K

This district is better funded than 0% of districts statewide.

Statewide Tier Distributioni

Tier 1: 36 (yours)

Tier 2: 579 (yours)

Tier 3: 96 (yours)

Tier 4: 221 (yours)

Joliet, IL School Funding Gaps & Adequacy