Total enrollment
5,973
-645 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Coles County
Illinois · Public K-12
Parents in Coles County researching K-12 options have 23 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 5,973 (9 elementary, 3 middle, and 8 high).
7-year change in Coles County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
-4 (-24%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
78%
was 87%
% Hispanic
6%
was 4%
% Black
7%
was 4%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
23
5 districts
Enrollment
5,973
NCES CCD
Median income
$56,478
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.9%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
9
2,520 students
Middle
3
1,709 students
High
8
1,744 students
Combined / other
3
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mattoon CUSD 2
2,983 students · 5 districts in Coles County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Coles 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
26.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.1%
civilian labor
Median age
38
18.3% under 18
Test scores in Coles County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Charleston Middle School· 54.8%
- Arland D Williams Jr Elem Sch· 53.5%
- Carl Sandburg Elem School· 50.8%
- Mattoon Middle School· 47.2%
- Jefferson Elem School· 45.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Ashmore Elem School· 27.6%
- Lake Crest Elem School· 30.3%
- Riddle Elementary School· 43.5%
- Jefferson Elem School· 45.2%
- Mattoon Middle School· 47.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon High School | Mattoon | High | 09-12 | 888 | · |
| Charleston High School | Charleston | High | 09-12 | 795 | · |
| Jefferson Elem School | Charleston | Middle | 04-06 | 698 | · |
| Arland D Williams Jr Elem Sch | Mattoon | Elementary | KG-05 | 653 | · |
| Mattoon Middle School | Mattoon | Middle | 06-08 | 610 | · |
| Riddle Elementary School | Mattoon | Elementary | KG-05 | 589 | · |
| Carl Sandburg Elem School | Charleston | Elementary | 01-03 | 555 | · |
| Charleston Middle School | Charleston | Middle | 07-08 | 401 | · |
| Franklin Elementary School | Mattoon | Elementary | PK-PK | 243 | · |
| Mark Twain Elem School | Charleston | Elementary | PK-KG | 221 | · |
| Lake Crest Elem School | Oakland | Elementary | PK-08 | 185 | · |
| Ashmore Elem School | Ashmore | Elementary | KG-04 | 74 | · |
| Oakland High School | Oakland | High | 09-12 | 61 | · |
| Eastern IL EFE System | Mattoon | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
| LIFE Academy | Mattoon | Combined | PK-12 | 0 | · |
| LIFT | Mattoon | High | 11-12 | 0 | · |
| Lerna Bridges | Lerna | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Lerna TAOEP | Charleston | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| OnTRACC | Mattoon | High | 12-12 | 0 | · |
| Shelbyville TAOEP | Charleston | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Adult LIFE Academy | Mattoon | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Humboldt Bridges | Humboldt | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Treatment & Learning Center-H | Humboldt | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Coles County
About Coles County
Across the thinly populated Illinois county of Coles County of about 46,777 residents, the public-school footprint covers 23 schools and about 5,973 students.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $56,478 a year, 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 20% noticeably below the Illinois median.
For a sense of the school types, Coles County spans 9 elementary schools (2,520 students), 3 middle schools (1,709), 8 high schools (1,744), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Coles County is Mattoon CUSD 2, which alone enrolls about 2,983 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,973 students, contracted 10% from the 6,618 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 17 to 13 across the same 7-year window. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 87% to 78%.
On allk12, the community for Coles County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Coles County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data