Mercer County Schools & Education
Mercer County, Illinois
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
76/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
92.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,158
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
76/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#23
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Mercer County
Measured School Summary
Mercer County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 76/100 and a graduation rate of 92.4%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Mercer County spends $9,158 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 20% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Mercer 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
8 public schools and 2 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
76/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #23 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
92.4%
3.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,158
$92 below the state average
School coverage
8
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Mercer County has 8 public schools across 2 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 Mercer 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.
Small-system county
Mercer County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#23
of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 13 points above 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.
Mercer County School District 404
Elementary to high school visible
1,294 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Sherrard CUSD 200
Elementary and middle visible
700 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Mercer County School District 404 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 Mercer County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Mercer 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?
Data Story
Mercer County composite school scores outpace state and national medians
Education data brief for Mercer County, Illinois.
Mercer County records a composite school score of 75.7, which is substantially higher than the national median of 50.0 and the Illinois state average of 63.0. This performance is mirrored in the county's graduation rate, which stands at 92.4%, exceeding the state average of 88.8% and the national mark of 87.0%. The county's 1,994 students are served by two school districts, with Sherrard CUSD 200 being the largest by enrollment with 1,371 students. The largest individual facility is Mercer County High School, which enrolls 404 students. Despite the higher outcomes, per-pupil expenditure is $9,158, which is slightly below the state average of $9,250 and well below the $13,000 national benchmark. The local school mix includes five rural and three town-based schools, with no charter schools in operation. Compare district boundaries before drawing conclusions.
Sources
- NCES Common Core of Data
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Mercer County
Reported Enrollment
1,994
8 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Mercer County
Sherrard CUSD 200
Mercer County School District 404
8 Public Schools in Mercer 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County High School | Record | Mercer County School District 404 | Aledo, 61231Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 404 |
| Apollo Elem School | Record | Mercer County School District 404 | Aledo, 61231Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 335 |
| Mercer County Jr High School | Record | Mercer County School District 404 | Aledo, 61231Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 299 |
| Winola Elementary School | Record | Sherrard CUSD 200 | Viola, 61486Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 273 |
| Sherrard Elementary School | Record | Sherrard CUSD 200 | Sherrard, 61281Rural: Distant | KG–4 | Primary | 237 |
| Matherville Intermediate School | Record | Sherrard CUSD 200 | Matherville, 61263Rural: Distant | 5–6 | Middle | 190 |
| New Boston Elem School | Record | Mercer County School District 404 | New Boston, 61272Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 175 |
| Mercer County ELC | Record | Mercer County School District 404 | Joy, 61260Rural: Distant | PK | Other | 81 |
Mercer County High School
Mercer County School District 404
Aledo, 61231 / Town: Distant
Apollo Elem School
Mercer County School District 404
Aledo, 61231 / Town: Distant
Mercer County Jr High School
Mercer County School District 404
Aledo, 61231 / Town: Distant
Sherrard Elementary School
Sherrard CUSD 200
Sherrard, 61281 / Rural: Distant
Matherville Intermediate School
Sherrard CUSD 200
Matherville, 61263 / Rural: Distant
New Boston Elem School
Mercer County School District 404
New Boston, 61272 / Rural: Remote
Mercer County ELC
Mercer County School District 404
Joy, 61260 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,158
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Mercer County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
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 Mercer County?
What is the graduation rate in Mercer County?
How much does Mercer County spend per student?
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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.