Pope County Schools & Education
Pope County, Illinois
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
84.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,556
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#90
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Pope County
Measured School Summary
Pope County has midrange measured school signals (score: 47/100) with a graduation rate of 84.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
Pope County spends $8,556 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 26% below the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Pope 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
2 public schools and 1 district 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
47/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #90 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
84.0%
4.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,556
$694 below the state average
School coverage
2
1 district 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
Pope County has 2 public schools across 1 district, 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 Pope 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
Pope 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
#90
of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 16 points below 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.
Pope Co CUD 1
Elementary and high visible
486 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Pope Co CUD 1 is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Pope County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Pope 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.
Consolidated Quality in Pope County
Pope County operates a streamlined education system consisting of just two public schools within a single county-wide district. This focused infrastructure serves 486 students, divided between one elementary and one high school. Every student in the county benefits from the unified resources of the Pope Co CUD 1 district.
A Unified District Experience
Pope Co CUD 1 manages 100% of the county's public education, offering a consistent experience for all local families. There are no charter schools, ensuring that all community resources and tax dollars are funneled into these two central campuses. This unified approach simplifies the educational journey for students from kindergarten through high school.
True Rural Education for Every Student
Both schools in the county are classified as rural, reflecting the area's natural landscapes and small population. Pope County Elementary is the larger of the two with 319 students, while the high school remains very intimate with only 167 students. This environment fosters a tight community where every student and family is part of the same educational circle.
School Overview
Total Schools
2
in Pope County
Reported Enrollment
486
2 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Pope County
Pope Co CUD 1
2 Public Schools in Pope 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 2 of 2 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pope County Elementary School | Record | Pope Co CUD 1 | Golconda, 62938Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 319 |
| Pope Co High School | Record | Pope Co CUD 1 | Golconda, 62938Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 167 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,556
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Pope 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 Pope County?
What is the graduation rate in Pope County?
How much does Pope County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Pope County, Illinois — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Pope County, Illinois?
Pope County operates a streamlined education system consisting of just two public schools within a single county-wide district. This focused infrastructure serves 486 students, divided between one elementary and one high school. Every student in the county benefits from the unified resources of the Pope Co CUD 1 district.
What are the major school districts in Pope County, Illinois?
Pope Co CUD 1 manages 100% of the county's public education, offering a consistent experience for all local families. There are no charter schools, ensuring that all community resources and tax dollars are funneled into these two central campuses. This unified approach simplifies the educational journey for students from kindergarten through high school.
What is the school experience like in Pope County?
Both schools in the county are classified as rural, reflecting the area's natural landscapes and small population. Pope County Elementary is the larger of the two with 319 students, while the high school remains very intimate with only 167 students. This environment fosters a tight community where every student and family is part of the same educational circle.
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.