Illinois at a glance
- Kindergarten: Age 5 on or prior to September 1.
- Compulsory school age: 6 to 17.
- Required instructional time: 185 days.
- Statewide grading scale: none identified; grading is generally set by districts.
- Remote learning instead of snow days: allowed under state rules.
Kindergarten entry age
In Illinois, a child can typically start kindergarten if they are Age 5 on or prior to September 1. A child born just after the cutoff usually starts a year later — which is why two children born weeks apart can be a full grade apart.
Use the What Grade Am I In? calculator to turn a birthday into a grade level, or compare all states in our kindergarten cutoff table. Source: Education Commission of the States.
School year and attendance
| Rule | Illinois | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory school age | 6–17 | ECS |
| Minimum instructional days | 185 | ECS (2023) |
| Minimum instructional hours | Not specified | ECS (2023) |
Instructional-time rules decide how many missed days must be made up — the reason a winter with several snow days can push the last day of school later. Count down to yours with the Days Until Summer tool.
Grading scale
We did not find a statewide grading scale for Illinois — in most states the scale is set by the district or even the school, and many use 90/80/70/60 or a plus/minus variant. Check your student handbook, then convert scores with our grading scale converter.
Snow days and remote learning
Chicago (O'Hare) averages about 38.4 inches of snow a year (1991–2020 normals, source), which puts Illinois in our regular snow tier. Districts used to heavy snow need more of it to close; places that rarely see snow close for less.
105 ILCS 5/10-20.56: board-adopted e-learning program (public hearing, ROE verification, 3-year approval); e-learning days may replace emergency days but may not exceed the number of emergency days in the approved calendar; at least 5 clock hours of instruction or school work per day. Source.
Estimate tomorrow's odds with the Illinois Snow Day Calculator.
SAT and ACT scores in Illinois (class of 2026)
Illinois's class of 2026 averaged 1215 on the SAT with 15% of graduates tested, and 19 on the ACT with 100% tested. Nationally the averages were 1045 (SAT) and 19.2 (ACT).
| Measure | Illinois | U.S. | Rank (of 51) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT participation | 15% | n/a | 31 |
| SAT average total | 1215 | 1045 | 8 |
| SAT Reading & Writing / Math | 608 / 607 | 528 / 517 | — |
| SAT total, class of 2025 | 961 | 1029 | — |
| ACT participation | 100% | 38% | 9 |
| ACT average composite | 19 | 19.2 | 37 |
Almost every Illinois graduate takes the ACT (ACT statewide testing program (>=90% of grads tested)), so its ACT average covers the whole class, including students not planning on college. States where few students take the ACT post higher averages because their test takers are mostly college applicants. The SAT and ACT scores by state study shows this participation effect across all 50 states and DC. To see where a single score lands, use the SAT score calculator or the ACT score calculator.
Sources: College Board SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report (Illinois, 2026); ACT 2026 average scores by state. Ranks are among the 50 states and DC.
Free tools for Illinois families and teachers
- High school GPA calculator and final grade calculator
- AP score calculator for May exams
- EZ Grader and report card comments for teachers
- Homework planner and the 10-minute homework rule
State rules change. Facts were checked against the linked sources on October 14, 2026; confirm with your district or state education department.