McDonough County Schools & Education
McDonough County, Illinois
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,144
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#46
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McDonough County
Measured School Summary
McDonough County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.4%.
Funding Context
McDonough County spends $10,144 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 3% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McDonough 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
18 public schools and 3 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
65/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #46 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
88.4%
0.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,144
$894 above the state average
School coverage
18
3 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
McDonough County has 18 public schools across 3 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 McDonough 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
McDonough 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
#46
of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 83% 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.
Macomb CUSD 185
Elementary to high school visible
2,036 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170
Elementary to high school visible
653 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
West Prairie CUSD 103
Elementary to high school visible
612 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Macomb CUSD 185 is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 McDonough County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McDonough 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 McDonough 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 Comprehensive System for Over 3,300 Students
McDonough County features 18 public schools across three districts, serving a total of 3,301 students. The landscape includes four elementary, four middle, and six high schools, plus several specialized facilities.
Macomb CUSD 185 Leads Local Education
Macomb CUSD 185 is the county's largest district, enrolling 2,036 students across five individual schools. West Prairie and Bushnell-Prairie City also provide vital services, and there are zero charter schools in the county.
Town-Centered Schools with Diverse Options
Thirteen schools are located in town settings, providing a central hub for student activity. While schools average 275 students, Macomb Senior High School offers a larger campus experience with 622 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in McDonough County
Reported Enrollment
3,301
15 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in McDonough County
Macomb CUSD 185
Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170
West Prairie CUSD 103
18 Public Schools in McDonough 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 dataLevel
Showing 18 of 18 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb Senior High School | Record | Macomb CUSD 185 | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 622 |
| Lincoln Elem School | Record | Macomb CUSD 185 | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | KG–3 | Primary | 548 |
| Edison Elementary School | Record | Macomb CUSD 185 | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | 4–6 | Middle | 432 |
| Bushnell-Prairie City Elem Sch | Record | Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170 | Bushnell, 61422Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 322 |
| Macomb Junior High School | Record | Macomb CUSD 185 | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 308 |
| Bushnell-Prairie City High Sch | Record | Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170 | Bushnell, 61422Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 195 |
| West Prairie South Elementary Sch | Record | West Prairie CUSD 103 | Colchester, 62326Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 177 |
| West Prairie North Elementary Sch | Record | West Prairie CUSD 103 | Good Hope, 61438Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 174 |
| West Prairie Senior High School | Record | West Prairie CUSD 103 | Sciota, 61475Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 162 |
| Bushnell-Prairie City Jr High Sch | Record | Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170 | Bushnell, 61422Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 136 |
| MacArthur Early Childhood Center | Record | Macomb CUSD 185 | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | PK | Other | 126 |
| West Prairie Junior High School | Record | West Prairie CUSD 103 | Sciota, 61475Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 99 |
| ROYALS Academy Macomb | Record | Hancck/Fultn/Schuylr/McDonogh ROE | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | 6–12 | Alternative | 0 |
| ROYALS RSSP Macomb | Record | Hancck/Fultn/Schuylr/McDonogh ROE | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | 6–12 | Alternative | 0 |
| Western Area Career System 265 | Record | Hancck/Fultn/Schuylr/McDonogh ROE | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
| Project Insight | Record | West Central IL Spec Educ Coop | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | — | Special Education | — |
| WCISEC HS ED | Record | West Central IL Spec Educ Coop | Macomb, 61455Town: Remote | — | Special Education | — |
| WCISEC MD | Record | West Central IL Spec Educ Coop | Colchester, 62326Rural: Distant | — | Special Education | — |
Bushnell-Prairie City Elem Sch
Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170
Bushnell, 61422 / Town: Remote
Bushnell-Prairie City High Sch
Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170
Bushnell, 61422 / Town: Remote
West Prairie South Elementary Sch
West Prairie CUSD 103
Colchester, 62326 / Rural: Distant
West Prairie North Elementary Sch
West Prairie CUSD 103
Good Hope, 61438 / Rural: Distant
West Prairie Senior High School
West Prairie CUSD 103
Sciota, 61475 / Rural: Distant
Bushnell-Prairie City Jr High Sch
Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170
Bushnell, 61422 / Town: Remote
MacArthur Early Childhood Center
Macomb CUSD 185
Macomb, 61455 / Town: Remote
West Prairie Junior High School
West Prairie CUSD 103
Sciota, 61475 / Rural: Distant
ROYALS Academy Macomb
Hancck/Fultn/Schuylr/McDonogh ROE
Macomb, 61455 / Town: Remote
ROYALS RSSP Macomb
Hancck/Fultn/Schuylr/McDonogh ROE
Macomb, 61455 / Town: Remote
Western Area Career System 265
Hancck/Fultn/Schuylr/McDonogh ROE
Macomb, 61455 / Town: Remote
Project Insight
West Central IL Spec Educ Coop
Macomb, 61455 / Town: Remote
WCISEC HS ED
West Central IL Spec Educ Coop
Macomb, 61455 / Town: Remote
WCISEC MD
West Central IL Spec Educ Coop
Colchester, 62326 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,144
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McDonough 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 McDonough County?
What is the graduation rate in McDonough County?
How much does McDonough County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McDonough County, Illinois — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McDonough County, Illinois?
McDonough County features 18 public schools across three districts, serving a total of 3,301 students. The landscape includes four elementary, four middle, and six high schools, plus several specialized facilities.
What are the major school districts in McDonough County, Illinois?
Macomb CUSD 185 is the county's largest district, enrolling 2,036 students across five individual schools. West Prairie and Bushnell-Prairie City also provide vital services, and there are zero charter schools in the county.
What is the school experience like in McDonough County?
Thirteen schools are located in town settings, providing a central hub for student activity. While schools average 275 students, Macomb Senior High School offers a larger campus experience with 622 students.
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.