Tri-Valley Community Unit School District 3 is a unit school district located in Downs, Illinois, a village in McLean County. It has a student count of 1,080. The school district is composed of three schools, Tri-Valley Elementary School, Tri-Valley Middle School, and Tri-Valley High school
Administration
Unit Office Department
Ben Derges - Superintendent Amy Bunn - Assistant Executive Secretary Samantha Boward - Instructional Curriculum Director
Principals
Frank Arnolts - High School Principal Sara Burnett - Middle School Principal Tyler Swearingen - Elementary School Principal
History The schooling in the Downs area dates back to 1842, a one-room Spring School House. In 1895 due to an increase in population the school expanded into the Kickapoo Union School District. Around 1902 the one building school district eventually expanded into the present-day three building Tri-Valley School District.
Standing As of the 2025-26 School year, the school ranks #2 in Bloomington, IL Metro Area High Schools, #56 in Illinois High Schools, and #1374 in National Rankings. + Scorecard Metric Percentage Took at Least One AP Exam 69% Passed at Least One AP Exam 38% Mathematics Proficiency 53% Reading Proficiency 55% Graduation Rate 99%
Demographics For the 2023–24 academic year, Tri-Valley High School enrolled 313 students, according to the NCES. The school employed 24.55 (FTE) teachers, resulting in a student to teacher ratio of 12.75:1. +Enrollment by race and ethnicity (2023–24)Race and ethnicity†Enrolled pupilsPercentageAfrican American20.6%Asian30.9%Hispanic82%Native American00%White29694%Native Hawaiian, Pacific islander00%Multi-race41%Total313100%† "Hispanic" includes Hispanics of any race. All other categories refer to non-Hispanics. +Enrollment by gender (2023–24)GenderEnrolled pupilsPercentageFemale16051%Male15349%Non-binaryNot ListedNaNTotal313100%
Athletics The Tri-Valley Vikings compete in the Heart of Illinois Conference (Large Division) and are members of the Illinois High School Association.
Sports The following sports are offered:
Fall: Football, Cross Country, Golf, Volleyball Winter: Basketball, Wrestling Spring: Baseball, Softball, Track and Field
Achievements
Football: Tri-Valley won the IHSA Class 2A State Championship in 2015. Track and Field: Stephanie Brown set the IHSA Class 1A record in the 800-meter run (2:09.12) in 2009.
References