Jackson County Schools & Education
Jackson County, Illinois
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,788
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#47
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Jackson County
Measured School Summary
Jackson County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.5%.
Funding Context
Jackson County spends $10,788 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 2% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Jackson 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
32 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
64/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #47 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
87.5%
1.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,788
$1,538 above the state average
School coverage
32
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
Jackson County has 32 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.
What Jackson 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
Jackson 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
#47
of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 1 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 75% 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.
Murphysboro CUSD 186
Elementary to high school visible
1,929 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Carbondale ESD 95
Elementary and middle visible
1,546 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Carbondale CHSD 165
High school only in this slice
997 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Trico CUSD 176
Elementary to high school visible
864 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Alxndr/Jcksn/Pulsk/Prry/Union ROE is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Jackson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Jackson 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?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Jackson 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.
A Large, Diverse Educational Hub
Jackson County supports 6,772 students across a robust network of 32 public schools managed by 9 districts. The system is comprehensive, featuring 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and seven high schools. It also includes 8 specialized special education schools, making it a regional leader in diverse learning needs.
Major Educational Providers in the Region
Murphysboro CUSD 186 is the largest active district, serving 1,929 students, followed by Carbondale ESD 95 with 1,546 students. These districts provide a traditional public school experience, as there are no charter schools currently operating in the county. Specialized regional offices also manage several alternative and special education sites.
From Urban Centers to Rural Outposts
Jackson County offers a unique locale mix with 15 rural schools, 10 town schools, and 7 city schools. The average school size is 339 students, though Carbondale Community High School is the largest with 997 students. This variety allows families to choose between a bustling urban campus or a quieter, smaller rural school.
School Overview
Total Schools
32
in Jackson County
Reported Enrollment
6,772
24 schools reporting
School Districts
9
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
9 School Districts in Jackson County
Murphysboro CUSD 186
Carbondale ESD 95
Carbondale CHSD 165
Trico CUSD 176
Unity Point CCSD 140
Elverado CUSD 196
Giant City CCSD 130
DeSoto Cons SD 86
Alxndr/Jcksn/Pulsk/Prry/Union ROE
32 Public Schools in Jackson County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 32 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale Comm H S | Profile | Carbondale CHSD 165 | Carbondale, 62901City: Small | 9–12 | High | 997 |
| Unity Point Elem School | Record | Unity Point CCSD 140 | Carbondale, 62903Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 637 |
| Murphysboro High School | Record | Murphysboro CUSD 186 | Murphysboro, 62966Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 598 |
| Parrish Elem School | Record | Carbondale ESD 95 | Carbondale, 62901City: Small | PK–1 | Primary | 495 |
| Trico Elementary School | Record | Trico CUSD 176 | Campbell Hill, 62916Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 456 |
| Carbondale Middle School | Record | Carbondale ESD 95 | Carbondale, 62901City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 446 |
| Murphysboro Middle School | Record | Murphysboro CUSD 186 | Murphysboro, 62966Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 444 |
| Carruthers Elementary School | Record | Murphysboro CUSD 186 | Murphysboro, 62966Town: Fringe | 3–5 | Primary | 406 |
| Gen John A Logan Attendance Cntr | Record | Murphysboro CUSD 186 | Murphysboro, 62966Rural: Fringe | KG–2 | Primary | 398 |
| Thomas Elementary School | Record | Carbondale ESD 95 | Carbondale, 62901City: Small | 2–3 | Primary | 305 |
| Lewis School | Record | Carbondale ESD 95 | Carbondale, 62901City: Small | 4–5 | Primary | 300 |
| Trico Senior High School | Record | Trico CUSD 176 | Campbell Hill, 62916Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 240 |
| Giant City Elem School | Record | Giant City CCSD 130 | Carbondale, 62902Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 239 |
| DeSoto Elementary School | Record | DeSoto Cons SD 86 | De Soto, 62924Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 180 |
| Trico Jr High School | Record | Trico CUSD 176 | Campbell Hill, 62916Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 168 |
| Elverado Primary School | Record | Elverado CUSD 196 | Elkville, 62932Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 113 |
| Elverado High School | Record | Elverado CUSD 196 | Elkville, 62932Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 112 |
| McElvain School | Record | Murphysboro CUSD 186 | Murphysboro, 62966Rural: Fringe | PK | Other | 83 |
| Elverado Intermediate School | Record | Elverado CUSD 196 | Vergennes, 62994Rural: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 82 |
| Elverado Junior High School | Record | Elverado CUSD 196 | Vergennes, 62994Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 73 |
Carbondale Comm H S
Carbondale CHSD 165
Carbondale, 62901 / City: Small
Unity Point Elem School
Unity Point CCSD 140
Carbondale, 62903 / Rural: Fringe
Murphysboro High School
Murphysboro CUSD 186
Murphysboro, 62966 / Town: Fringe
Trico Elementary School
Trico CUSD 176
Campbell Hill, 62916 / Rural: Distant
Murphysboro Middle School
Murphysboro CUSD 186
Murphysboro, 62966 / Town: Fringe
Carruthers Elementary School
Murphysboro CUSD 186
Murphysboro, 62966 / Town: Fringe
Gen John A Logan Attendance Cntr
Murphysboro CUSD 186
Murphysboro, 62966 / Rural: Fringe
Thomas Elementary School
Carbondale ESD 95
Carbondale, 62901 / City: Small
Trico Senior High School
Trico CUSD 176
Campbell Hill, 62916 / Rural: Distant
Giant City Elem School
Giant City CCSD 130
Carbondale, 62902 / Rural: Fringe
DeSoto Elementary School
DeSoto Cons SD 86
De Soto, 62924 / Rural: Fringe
Elverado Primary School
Elverado CUSD 196
Elkville, 62932 / Rural: Distant
Elverado Intermediate School
Elverado CUSD 196
Vergennes, 62994 / Rural: Distant
Elverado Junior High School
Elverado CUSD 196
Vergennes, 62994 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,788
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Jackson County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Illinois counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Illinois?
How should I read the school score in Jackson County?
What is the graduation rate in Jackson County?
How much does Jackson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Jackson County, Illinois — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Jackson County, Illinois?
Jackson County supports 6,772 students across a robust network of 32 public schools managed by 9 districts. The system is comprehensive, featuring 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and seven high schools. It also includes 8 specialized special education schools, making it a regional leader in diverse learning needs.
What are the major school districts in Jackson County, Illinois?
Murphysboro CUSD 186 is the largest active district, serving 1,929 students, followed by Carbondale ESD 95 with 1,546 students. These districts provide a traditional public school experience, as there are no charter schools currently operating in the county. Specialized regional offices also manage several alternative and special education sites.
What is the school experience like in Jackson County?
Jackson County offers a unique locale mix with 15 rural schools, 10 town schools, and 7 city schools. The average school size is 339 students, though Carbondale Community High School is the largest with 997 students. This variety allows families to choose between a bustling urban campus or a quieter, smaller rural school.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.