schoolsbycounty

Knox County Schools & Education

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,339

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

57/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#68

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Knox County

Measured School Summary

Knox County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.0%.

Funding Context

Knox County spends $9,339 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 9% below the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Knox 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

23 public schools and 5 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

57/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #68 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

87.0%

1.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$9,339

$89 above the state average

School coverage

23

5 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

Knox County has 23 public schools across 5 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 Knox 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

Knox 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

#68

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 6 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 96% 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.

Galesburg CUSD 205

Elementary to high school visible

3,928 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 2Other 1

8 listed schools in this county slice.

Knoxville CUSD 202

Elementary to high school visible

961 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

R O W V A CUSD 208

Elementary and high visible

616 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Williamsfield CUSD 210

Elementary to high school visible

295 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Galesburg CUSD 205 is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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 Knox County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Knox 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 Knox 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.

Traditional Town Schooling in Knox County

Knox County provides a structured educational landscape for 6,451 students across 23 public schools. Managed by 5 districts, the system includes 7 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 10 high schools. This ensures that even in a smaller county, there is ample access to secondary education options.

Galesburg CUSD 205 Anchors the County

Galesburg CUSD 205 is the central pillar of the county's education, serving 3,928 students across 8 schools. Knoxville CUSD 202 also plays a significant role, providing for 961 students. There are no charter schools in the county, emphasizing a community-driven, traditional public school model.

The Classic American Town Experience

With 18 of its 23 schools located in town settings, the county offers a classic community-centric school feel. The average school size is 403 students, though Galesburg Senior High School is much larger with 1,762 students. For a more intimate setting, Williamsfield CUSD 210 serves just 295 students across its entire district.

School Overview

Total Schools

23

in Knox County

Reported Enrollment

6,451

22 schools reporting

School Districts

5

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7
Middle4
High10
Other2

5 School Districts in Knox County

Galesburg CUSD 205

Guide
8 schools
3,928 students
Open district guide

Knoxville CUSD 202

3 schools
961 students

R O W V A CUSD 208

2 schools
616 students

Williamsfield CUSD 210

3 schools
295 students

Knox Warren Spec Ed Districts

1 school
0 students

23 Public Schools in Knox 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 data

Level

Showing 20 of 23 matching schools

Galesburg Senior High School

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

Profile7–12High1,762 students

Lombard Middle School

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

Record5–6Middle532 students

King School

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary531 students

Steele School

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary503 students

Silas Willard Elem School

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary420 students

Mable Woolsey Elem School

Knoxville CUSD 202

Knoxville, 61448 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary402 students

R O W V A Elem School

R O W V A CUSD 208

Oneida, 61467 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary373 students

Hedding Grade Sch

Abingdon-Avon CUSD 276

Abingdon, 61410 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary366 students

Knoxville Sr High School

Knoxville CUSD 202

Knoxville, 61448 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High314 students

Abingdon-Avon High Sch

Abingdon-Avon CUSD 276

Abingdon, 61410 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High285 students

Knoxville Jr High School

Knoxville CUSD 202

Knoxville, 61448 / Town: Distant

Record5–8Middle245 students

R O W V A Jr and Sr High School

R O W V A CUSD 208

Oneida, 61467 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High243 students

Bright Futures Pre-K Prog

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther180 students

Williamsfield Elem School

Williamsfield CUSD 210

Williamsfield, 61489 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary125 students

Williamsfield High School

Williamsfield CUSD 210

Williamsfield, 61489 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High96 students

Williamsfield Middle School

Williamsfield CUSD 210

Williamsfield, 61489 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle74 students

Galesburg Area Voc Ctr

Henderson/Knox/Mercer/Warren ROE

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

Record11–12Vocational0 students

Galesburg Jr High School

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

Record7–8Middle0 students

Knox Co Mary Davis Detention Home

Galesburg CUSD 205

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Alternative0 students

RAES East Alt Ed

Henderson/Knox/Mercer/Warren ROE

Galesburg, 61401 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,339

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Knox 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 Knox County?
Knox County has a school score of 57/100, 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 Knox County?
The high school graduation rate in Knox County is 87.0%, 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 Knox County spend per student?
Knox County spends $9,339 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 Knox County, Illinois — FAQ

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

Knox County provides a structured educational landscape for 6,451 students across 23 public schools. Managed by 5 districts, the system includes 7 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 10 high schools. This ensures that even in a smaller county, there is ample access to secondary education options.

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

Galesburg CUSD 205 is the central pillar of the county's education, serving 3,928 students across 8 schools. Knoxville CUSD 202 also plays a significant role, providing for 961 students. There are no charter schools in the county, emphasizing a community-driven, traditional public school model.

What is the school experience like in Knox County?

With 18 of its 23 schools located in town settings, the county offers a classic community-centric school feel. The average school size is 403 students, though Galesburg Senior High School is much larger with 1,762 students. For a more intimate setting, Williamsfield CUSD 210 serves just 295 students across its entire district.

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.