Monroe County Schools & Education
Monroe County, Illinois
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
66/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,825
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
66/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#43
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Monroe County
Measured School Summary
Monroe County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.3%.
Funding Context
At $7,825 per pupil, Monroe County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 4% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 15% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Monroe 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
14 public schools and 4 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
66/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #43 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
92.3%
3.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,825
$1,425 below the state average
School coverage
14
4 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
Monroe County has 14 public schools across 4 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 Monroe 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
Monroe 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
#43
of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.
Waterloo CUSD 5
Elementary to high school visible
2,768 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Columbia CUSD 4
Elementary to high school visible
1,990 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Valmeyer CUSD 3
Elementary to high school visible
355 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Monroe/Randolph ROE
High school only in this slice
0 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Waterloo CUSD 5 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 Monroe County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Growing Suburban School Network
Monroe County hosts 14 public schools serving 5,113 students through 4 distinct districts. The infrastructure is well-balanced with six elementary, three middle, and five high schools, including one alternative education site.
High Performance on a Lean Budget
The county achieves an impressive 92.3% graduation rate despite a lean per-pupil expenditure of $7,825. This efficiency demonstrates strong community results compared to the state average spending of $9,250.
Waterloo and Columbia Districts Lead
Waterloo CUSD 5 is the largest provider with 2,768 students, while Columbia CUSD 4 serves 1,990 students. All 14 schools are traditional public institutions, as there are no charter schools currently operating in the county.
A Mix of Suburb and Town Life
The county offers a diverse locale mix of six rural, four suburb, and four town settings. Waterloo High School is the largest facility with 895 students, reflecting the area's larger average school size of 426 compared to neighboring rural counties.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in Monroe County
Reported Enrollment
5,113
14 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Monroe County
Waterloo CUSD 5
Columbia CUSD 4
Valmeyer CUSD 3
Monroe/Randolph ROE
14 Public Schools in Monroe 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 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo High School | Record | Waterloo CUSD 5 | Waterloo, 62298Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 895 |
| Columbia High School | Record | Columbia CUSD 4 | Columbia, 62236Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 635 |
| Waterloo Junior High School | Record | Waterloo CUSD 5 | Waterloo, 62298Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 619 |
| Columbia Middle School | Record | Columbia CUSD 4 | Columbia, 62236Suburb: Large | 5–8 | Middle | 608 |
| W J Zahnow Elem School | Record | Waterloo CUSD 5 | Waterloo, 62298Town: Fringe | PK–1 | Primary | 488 |
| Parkview Elementary School | Record | Columbia CUSD 4 | Columbia, 62236Suburb: Large | 2–4 | Primary | 432 |
| Gardner Elementary School | Record | Waterloo CUSD 5 | Waterloo, 62298Town: Fringe | 4–5 | Primary | 399 |
| Rogers Elem School | Record | Waterloo CUSD 5 | Waterloo, 62298Town: Fringe | 2–3 | Primary | 367 |
| Eagleview Elementary School | Record | Columbia CUSD 4 | Columbia, 62236Suburb: Large | PK–1 | Primary | 315 |
| Valmeyer Elementary School | Record | Valmeyer CUSD 3 | Valmeyer, 62295Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 151 |
| Valmeyer High School | Record | Valmeyer CUSD 3 | Valmeyer, 62295Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 118 |
| Valmeyer Jr High | Record | Valmeyer CUSD 3 | Valmeyer, 62295Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 86 |
| Career Center of Southern IL | Record | Monroe/Randolph ROE | Red Bud, 62278Rural: Distant | 10–12 | Vocational | 0 |
| CCSI Alternative School | Record | Monroe/Randolph ROE | Red Bud, 62278Rural: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 0 |
Parkview Elementary School
Columbia CUSD 4
Columbia, 62236 / Suburb: Large
Eagleview Elementary School
Columbia CUSD 4
Columbia, 62236 / Suburb: Large
Valmeyer Elementary School
Valmeyer CUSD 3
Valmeyer, 62295 / Rural: Distant
Career Center of Southern IL
Monroe/Randolph ROE
Red Bud, 62278 / Rural: Distant
CCSI Alternative School
Monroe/Randolph ROE
Red Bud, 62278 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,825
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Monroe 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 Monroe County?
What is the graduation rate in Monroe County?
How much does Monroe County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Monroe County, Illinois — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Monroe County, Illinois?
Monroe County hosts 14 public schools serving 5,113 students through 4 distinct districts. The infrastructure is well-balanced with six elementary, three middle, and five high schools, including one alternative education site.
How do schools in Monroe County perform academically?
The county achieves an impressive 92.3% graduation rate despite a lean per-pupil expenditure of $7,825. This efficiency demonstrates strong community results compared to the state average spending of $9,250.
What are the major school districts in Monroe County, Illinois?
Waterloo CUSD 5 is the largest provider with 2,768 students, while Columbia CUSD 4 serves 1,990 students. All 14 schools are traditional public institutions, as there are no charter schools currently operating in the county.
What is the school experience like in Monroe County?
The county offers a diverse locale mix of six rural, four suburb, and four town settings. Waterloo High School is the largest facility with 895 students, reflecting the area's larger average school size of 426 compared to neighboring rural counties.
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.