schoolsbycounty

Shelby County Schools & Education

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,457

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#45

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Shelby County

Measured School Summary

Shelby County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.1%.

Funding Context

Shelby County spends $8,457 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 exceeds the state average by 2.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Shelby 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

65/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #45 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

91.1%

2.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,457

$793 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

Shelby 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.

Parent decision brief

What Shelby 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

Shelby 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

#45

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 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.

Shelbyville CUSD 4

Elementary to high school visible

1,251 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A

Elementary and high visible

399 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Windsor CUSD 1

Elementary and high visible

339 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Cowden-Herrick CUSD 3A

Elementary and high visible

322 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Shelbyville CUSD 4 is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Shelby County?

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

Shelbyville CUSD 4 Leads the County

Shelbyville CUSD 4 is the primary district, educating 1,251 students across four schools. Other notable districts include Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A and Cowden-Herrick CUSD 3A, which serve 399 and 322 students respectively. The county does not host any charter schools, maintaining a focus on community-based districts.

A Blend of Rural and Town Learning

Most students attend one of the 10 rural schools, though four schools are located in town settings. Moulton Elementary School is the county's largest at 429 students, while the countywide average enrollment is 219 students per school. This smaller school size allows for a community-oriented feel throughout the county.

School Overview

Total Schools

14

in Shelby County

Reported Enrollment

2,843

14 schools reporting

School Districts

4

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary6
Middle2
High6
Other0

4 School Districts in Shelby County

Shelbyville CUSD 4

4 schools
1,251 students

Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A

2 schools
399 students

Windsor CUSD 1

2 schools
339 students

Cowden-Herrick CUSD 3A

2 schools
322 students

14 Public Schools in Shelby 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 data

Level

Showing 14 of 14 matching schools

Moulton Elementary School

Shelbyville CUSD 4

Shelbyville, 62565 / Town: Distant

Record4–8Middle429 students

Main Street Elementary School

Shelbyville CUSD 4

Shelbyville, 62565 / Town: Distant

Record1–3Primary381 students

Shelbyville High School

Shelbyville CUSD 4

Shelbyville, 62565 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High354 students

Stewardson-Strasburg Elem School

Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A

Strasburg, 62465 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary271 students

Central A & M High School

Central A & M CUD 21

Moweaqua, 62550 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High225 students

Windsor Elem School

Windsor CUSD 1

Windsor, 61957 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary202 students

Gregory Intermediate

Central A & M CUD 21

Moweaqua, 62550 / Rural: Distant

Record2–5Primary192 students

Cowden-Herrick Jr/Sr High School

Cowden-Herrick CUSD 3A

Cowden, 62422 / Rural: Remote

Record6–12High165 students

Cowden-Herrick Grade School

Cowden-Herrick CUSD 3A

Herrick, 62431 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary157 students

Windsor Jr & Sr High School

Windsor CUSD 1

Windsor, 61957 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High137 students

Stewardson-Strasburg High School

Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A

Strasburg, 62465 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High128 students

Okaw Valley Middle School

Okaw Valley CUSD 302

Findlay, 62534 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle115 students

Shelbyville Kindergarten Center

Shelbyville CUSD 4

Shelbyville, 62565 / Town: Distant

RecordKGPrimary87 students

Shelbyville Bridges

Clk/Cls/Cmbn/Dglas/Edgr/Mltr/Shlb

Shelbyville, 62565 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,457

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Shelby 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.

View Schools

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 Shelby County?
Shelby County has a school score of 65/100, 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 Shelby County?
The high school graduation rate in Shelby County is 91.1%, which is above 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 Shelby County spend per student?
Shelby County spends $8,457 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 Shelby County, Illinois — FAQ

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

Shelbyville CUSD 4 is the primary district, educating 1,251 students across four schools. Other notable districts include Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A and Cowden-Herrick CUSD 3A, which serve 399 and 322 students respectively. The county does not host any charter schools, maintaining a focus on community-based districts.

What is the school experience like in Shelby County?

Most students attend one of the 10 rural schools, though four schools are located in town settings. Moulton Elementary School is the county's largest at 429 students, while the countywide average enrollment is 219 students per school. This smaller school size allows for a community-oriented feel throughout the county.

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.