Union County Schools & Education
Union 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
89.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,527
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
66/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#40
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Union County
Measured School Summary
Union County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.8%.
Funding Context
Union County spends $9,527 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 4% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Union 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 7 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 #40 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
89.8%
1.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,527
$277 above the state average
School coverage
18
7 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
Union County has 18 public schools across 7 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 Union 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
Union 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
#40
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 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.
Anna CCSD 37
Elementary and middle visible
574 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Anna Jonesboro CHSD 81
High school only in this slice
497 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Cobden SUD 17
Elementary to high school visible
465 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
County of Union Sch Dist No43
Elementary school only in this slice
341 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Anna CCSD 37 is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Union County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Union 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 Union 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.
Union County’s Rural School Network
Union County provides education to 2,536 students across 18 public schools and seven districts. The system includes 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools, plus three specialized education centers.
Spotlight on Anna CCSD 37
Anna CCSD 37 is the largest district in the county, educating 574 students across three schools. No charter schools exist in this county, ensuring a focused traditional public school environment for all local families.
Small Schools in a Scenic Rural Locale
Attending school here feels community-oriented, as the average school size is just 169 students. The landscape is entirely rural and town-based, ranging from Anna-Jonesboro High’s 497 students to much smaller primary schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in Union County
Reported Enrollment
2,536
15 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Union County
Anna CCSD 37
Anna Jonesboro CHSD 81
Cobden SUD 17
County of Union Sch Dist No43
Shawnee CUSD 84
Dongola USD 66
Lick Creek CCSD 16
18 Public Schools in Union 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna-Jonesboro High School | Record | Anna Jonesboro CHSD 81 | Anna, 62906Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 497 |
| Jonesboro Elem School | Record | County of Union Sch Dist No43 | Jonesboro, 62952Town: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 341 |
| Anna Junior High School | Record | Anna CCSD 37 | Anna, 62906Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 238 |
| Lincoln Elem School | Record | Anna CCSD 37 | Anna, 62906Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 219 |
| Cobden Elem School | Record | Cobden SUD 17 | Cobden, 62920Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 211 |
| Cobden High School | Record | Cobden SUD 17 | Cobden, 62920Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 161 |
| Shawnee Elementary School | Record | Shawnee CUSD 84 | Wolf Lake, 62998Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 151 |
| Lick Creek Elem School | Record | Lick Creek CCSD 16 | Buncombe, 62912Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 139 |
| Dongola Elementary School | Record | Dongola USD 66 | Dongola, 62926Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 124 |
| Davie Elem School | Record | Anna CCSD 37 | Anna, 62906Town: Distant | 3–4 | Primary | 117 |
| Cobden Jr High School | Record | Cobden SUD 17 | Cobden, 62920Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 93 |
| Shawnee High School | Record | Shawnee CUSD 84 | Wolf Lake, 62998Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 69 |
| Shawnee Jr High School | Record | Shawnee CUSD 84 | Wolf Lake, 62998Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 65 |
| Dongola High School | Record | Dongola USD 66 | Dongola, 62926Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 58 |
| Dongola Jr High School | Record | Dongola USD 66 | Dongola, 62926Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 53 |
| TCSE-Anna Jonesboro HS | Record | Tri-County Sp Ed Jnt Agreement | Anna, 62906Town: Distant | — | Special Education | — |
| TCSE-JONESBORO GRADE SCH | Record | Tri-County Sp Ed Jnt Agreement | Jonesboro, 62952Town: Distant | — | Special Education | — |
| Tri-County South - Choate | Record | Tri-County Sp Ed Jnt Agreement | Anna, 62906Town: Distant | — | Special Education | — |
Anna-Jonesboro High School
Anna Jonesboro CHSD 81
Anna, 62906 / Town: Distant
Jonesboro Elem School
County of Union Sch Dist No43
Jonesboro, 62952 / Town: Distant
Shawnee Elementary School
Shawnee CUSD 84
Wolf Lake, 62998 / Rural: Distant
Lick Creek Elem School
Lick Creek CCSD 16
Buncombe, 62912 / Rural: Distant
TCSE-Anna Jonesboro HS
Tri-County Sp Ed Jnt Agreement
Anna, 62906 / Town: Distant
TCSE-JONESBORO GRADE SCH
Tri-County Sp Ed Jnt Agreement
Jonesboro, 62952 / Town: Distant
Tri-County South - Choate
Tri-County Sp Ed Jnt Agreement
Anna, 62906 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,527
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Union 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 Union County?
What is the graduation rate in Union County?
How much does Union County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Union County, Illinois — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Union County, Illinois?
Union County provides education to 2,536 students across 18 public schools and seven districts. The system includes 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools, plus three specialized education centers.
What are the major school districts in Union County, Illinois?
Anna CCSD 37 is the largest district in the county, educating 574 students across three schools. No charter schools exist in this county, ensuring a focused traditional public school environment for all local families.
What is the school experience like in Union County?
Attending school here feels community-oriented, as the average school size is just 169 students. The landscape is entirely rural and town-based, ranging from Anna-Jonesboro High’s 497 students to much smaller primary schools.
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.