Total enrollment
5,523
-638 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Franklin County
Illinois · Public K-12
Franklin County's school count of 25 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 5,523 students inside Illinois, around 15% of the county population. That works out to 11 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high schools.
7-year change in Franklin County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 95%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
37,323
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
25
11 districts
Enrollment
5,523
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,740
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
57.3%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
11
3,036 students
Middle
6
865 students
High
7
1,622 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Frankfort CUSD 168
1,517 students · 11 districts in Franklin County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Franklin 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+
15.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.7%
civilian labor
Median age
43
22.1% under 18
Test scores in Franklin County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Ewing-Northern Elem School· 80.3%
- Akin Comm Cons Elem School· 68.9%
- Sesser-Valier Jr High School· 62.6%
- Sesser-Valier Elem School· 61.1%
- Christopher Elem School· 51.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Zeigler-Royalton Jr High School· 33.3%
- Zeigler-Royalton Elem School· 40.2%
- Central Jr High School· 40.5%
- Benton Grade Sch K-4· 44.0%
- Frankfort Intermediate School· 45.9%
Cities in Franklin County
About Franklin County
Across the small Illinois county of Franklin County of about 37,323 residents, the public-school footprint covers 25 schools and about 5,523 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $56,740, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 13% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 19% below the Illinois median.
In terms of grade levels, Franklin County is made up of 11 elementary schools (3,036 students), 6 middle schools (865), 7 high schools (1,622), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Franklin County is Frankfort CUSD 168, which alone enrolls about 1,517 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 10%: 6,161 students in SY 2017-18 versus 5,523 in SY 2024-25. Franklin County now counts 19 public schools, down from 20 in SY 2017-18.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Franklin County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Franklin County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data