A Dec. 17 trial is planned for the 14-year-old boy accused of firing a handgun at Normal Community High School.
Judge Elizabeth Robb on Tuesday ruled the teen will remain in juvenile court, and she scheduled the case for a bench trial.
Robb says she decided not to transfer the boy to adult court after receiving his psychiatric evaluation.
If prosecuted as an adult, he could have faced at least 30 years in prison. The worst he'll get now is incarceration in a juvenile facility until he's 21.
In court Tuesday, prosecutors read the boy's journal pages, which talked about voices urging him to commit violence.
Authorities contend he had three handguns Sept. 7 when he fired shots into a classroom ceiling before a teacher tackled him. Nobody was injured.