schoolsbycounty

Franklin County Schools & Education

School Score

53/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

83.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

83.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,386

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

53/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#78

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Franklin County

Measured School Summary

Franklin County has midrange measured school signals (score: 53/100) with a graduation rate of 83.2%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Franklin County spends $10,386 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 15% below the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 5.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Franklin County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

24 public schools and 9 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

53/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #78 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

83.2%

5.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$10,386

$1,136 above the state average

School coverage

24

9 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Franklin County has 24 public schools across 9 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Franklin County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Franklin County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#78

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Frankfort CUSD 168

Elementary to high school visible

1,540 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Benton CCSD 47

Elementary and middle visible

1,075 students

Elementary 1Middle 2High 0Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Christopher USD 99

Elementary and high visible

700 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Sesser-Valier CUSD 196

Elementary to high school visible

609 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Frankfort CUSD 168 is the largest listed district slice, with 4 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Franklin County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Franklin County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Franklin County, Illinois

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Extensive Education Network Across Nine Districts

Franklin County supports a large network of 24 public schools serving 5,658 students. The system includes 10 elementary, six middle, and seven high schools, plus an alternative learning center. Nine districts collaborate to manage this widespread infrastructure across the region.

Frankfort and Benton Districts Drive Enrollment

Frankfort CUSD 168 is the county's largest district, serving 1,540 students across four schools. Benton CCSD 47 follows closely, managing 1,075 students in three campuses focused on primary and middle education. No charter schools operate in the county, leaving education entirely in the hands of traditional local districts.

Rural and Town Learning Environments

The county features a diverse locale mix with 13 rural schools and 11 schools situated in town centers. With an average enrollment of 298 students, schools like Benton Grade K-4 (617 students) offer larger peer groups, while others remain very small. This variety provides families with choices between community hubs and quieter, rural campuses.

School Overview

Total Schools

24

in Franklin County

Reported Enrollment

5,658

24 schools reporting

School Districts

9

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10
Middle6
High7
Other1

9 School Districts in Franklin County

Frankfort CUSD 168

4 schools
1,540 students

Benton CCSD 47

3 schools
1,075 students

Christopher USD 99

2 schools
700 students

Sesser-Valier CUSD 196

3 schools
609 students

Benton Cons HSD 103

2 schools
577 students

Zeigler-Royalton CUSD 188

3 schools
497 students

Thompsonville CUSD 174

2 schools
318 students

Ewing Northern CCSD 115

1 school
236 students

Akin CCSD 91

1 school
106 students

24 Public Schools in Franklin County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 24 matching schools

Benton Grade Sch K-4

Benton CCSD 47

Benton, 62812 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary617 students

Benton Cons High School

Benton Cons HSD 103

Benton, 62812 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High577 students

Christopher Elem School

Christopher USD 99

Christopher, 62822 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–8Primary486 students

Denning Elementary School

Frankfort CUSD 168

West Frankfort, 62896 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary467 students

Benton Grade Sch 5-8

Benton CCSD 47

Benton, 62812 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle458 students

Frankfort Comm High School

Frankfort CUSD 168

West Frankfort, 62896 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High434 students

Frankfort Intermediate School

Frankfort CUSD 168

West Frankfort, 62896 / Town: Fringe

Record3–6Primary420 students

Sesser-Valier Elem School

Sesser-Valier CUSD 196

Sesser, 62884 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary282 students

Zeigler-Royalton Elem School

Zeigler-Royalton CUSD 188

Zeigler, 62999 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary253 students

Ewing-Northern Elem School

Ewing Northern CCSD 115

Ewing, 62836 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary236 students

Central Jr High School

Frankfort CUSD 168

West Frankfort, 62896 / Town: Fringe

Record7–8Middle219 students

Thompsonville Grade School

Thompsonville CUSD 174

Thompsonville, 62890 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary215 students

Christopher High

Christopher USD 99

Christopher, 62822 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High214 students

Sesser-Valier High School

Sesser-Valier CUSD 196

Sesser, 62884 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High192 students

Sesser-Valier Jr High School

Sesser-Valier CUSD 196

Sesser, 62884 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle135 students

Zeigler-Royalton High School

Zeigler-Royalton CUSD 188

Zeigler, 62999 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High130 students

Zeigler-Royalton Jr High School

Zeigler-Royalton CUSD 188

Zeigler, 62999 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle114 students

Akin Comm Cons Elem School

Akin CCSD 91

Akin, 62890 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary106 students

Thompsonville High School

Thompsonville CUSD 174

Thompsonville, 62890 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High103 students

ECHO Juvenile Detention Ctr

Frankln/Johnsn/Massc/Willimsn ROE

Benton, 62812 / Town: Distant

Record4–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,386

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Franklin County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Illinois counties have the highest graduation rates?
Edwards County (97.0%), Hamilton County (97.0%), and Johnson County (96.3%) currently lead Illinois among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Illinois?
Across Illinois counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,250. The highest current county values are Lake County ($12,962), DuPage County ($12,349), and Jo Daviess County ($12,337). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Franklin County?
Franklin County has a school score of 53/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Franklin County?
The high school graduation rate in Franklin County is 83.2%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Franklin County spend per student?
Franklin County spends $10,386 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Franklin County, Illinois — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Franklin County, Illinois?

Franklin County supports a large network of 24 public schools serving 5,658 students. The system includes 10 elementary, six middle, and seven high schools, plus an alternative learning center. Nine districts collaborate to manage this widespread infrastructure across the region.

What are the major school districts in Franklin County, Illinois?

Frankfort CUSD 168 is the county's largest district, serving 1,540 students across four schools. Benton CCSD 47 follows closely, managing 1,075 students in three campuses focused on primary and middle education. No charter schools operate in the county, leaving education entirely in the hands of traditional local districts.

What is the school experience like in Franklin County?

The county features a diverse locale mix with 13 rural schools and 11 schools situated in town centers. With an average enrollment of 298 students, schools like Benton Grade K-4 (617 students) offer larger peer groups, while others remain very small. This variety provides families with choices between community hubs and quieter, rural campuses.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.