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Brown County

Illinois · Public K-12

3 public K-12 schools operate inside Brown County, with roughly 673 students enrolled, an average of 224 per campus. By grade band, the county runs 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Brown County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
673
-57 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 96%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
3
1 districts
Enrollment
673
NCES CCD
Median income
$67,917
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.3%
Below Illinois avg
Elementary
1
270 students
Middle
1
179 students
High
1
224 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Brown County CUSD 1
673 students · 1 district in Brown County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Brown County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
75%
Hispanic
7%
Black
18%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
93%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
12.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
41
16.8% under 18

Test scores in Brown County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.

See all 2 schools in Brown County ranked by score →

All schools (3)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Brown County Elementary SchoolMount SterlingElementaryPK-04270·
Brown County High SchoolMount SterlingHigh09-12224·
Brown County Middle SchoolMount SterlingMiddle05-08179·

Cities in Brown County

Mount Sterling3 schools

About Brown County

Across the compact Illinois county of Brown County of about 6,322 residents, the public-school footprint covers 3 schools and about 673 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $67,917, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%.

For a sense of the school types, Brown County comprises 1 elementary school (270 students), 1 middle school (179), and 1 high school (224).

Brown County CUSD 1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 673 students across Brown County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 8%: 730 students in SY 2017-18 versus 673 in SY 2024-25.

On this page, the community for Brown County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Brown County?
There are 3 public K-12 schools in Brown County, Illinois, with a combined enrollment of about 673.
How many high schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Illinois has 1 public high school, serving approximately 224 students.
How many middle schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Illinois has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 179 students.
How many elementary schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Illinois has 1 public elementary school, serving approximately 270 students.
What is the largest school district in Brown County?
Brown County CUSD 1 is the largest school district in Brown County, serving approximately 673 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Brown County?
Brown County, Illinois has a population of approximately 6,322, with a median age of 41. About 16.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Brown County?
Median household income in Brown County is $67,917, below the Illinois average of $70,291. About 7.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Brown County?
Approximately 12.6% of adults 25 and older in Brown County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Brown County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 41.3% of students in Brown County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Illinois county average of 51.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Brown County schools?
Across Brown County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.6 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data