Total enrollment
6,811
+210 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Jackson County
Illinois · Public K-12
Jackson County's school count of 32 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 6,811 students inside Illinois, around 13% of the county population. That works out to 20 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Jackson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
20
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Jackson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Illinois | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 34.9% | #76 of 88 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,811 | #30 of 89 | #1,084 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 20 | #34 of 89 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.9:1 | #37 of 89 | #865 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 73.5% | #1 of 89 | #646 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 61.9% | #14 of 89 | #475 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Jackson County school rankings
Residents
53,064
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
32
10 districts
Enrollment
6,811
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$48,763
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
73.5%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
20
3,771 students
Middle
5
1,130 students
High
6
1,910 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Murphysboro CUSD 186
1,877 students · 10 districts in Jackson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jackson 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+
36.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.5%
civilian labor
Median age
32
18.8% under 18
Test scores in Jackson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Elverado Junior High School· 83.8%
- Giant City Elem School· 74.0%
- Unity Point Elem School· 63.0%
- Trico Jr High School· 59.5%
- Trico Elementary School· 44.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Thomas Elementary School· 25.0%
- Carbondale Middle School· 28.1%
- Elverado Intermediate School· 28.9%
- Lewis School· 29.9%
- Carruthers Elementary School· 34.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale Comm H S | Carbondale | High | 09-12 | 1,023 | · |
| Unity Point Elem School | Carbondale | Elementary | PK-08 | 620 | · |
| Murphysboro High School | Murphysboro | High | 09-12 | 565 | · |
| Trico Elementary School | Campbell Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 477 | · |
| Parrish Elem School | Carbondale | Elementary | PK-01 | 466 | · |
| Carbondale Middle School | Carbondale | Middle | 06-08 | 457 | · |
| Carruthers Elementary School | Murphysboro | Elementary | 03-05 | 426 | · |
| Murphysboro Middle School | Murphysboro | Middle | 06-08 | 422 | · |
| Gen John A Logan Attendance Cntr | Murphysboro | Elementary | KG-02 | 400 | · |
| Thomas Elementary School | Carbondale | Elementary | 02-03 | 400 | · |
| Lewis School | Carbondale | Elementary | 04-05 | 325 | · |
| Trico Senior High School | Campbell Hill | High | 09-12 | 220 | · |
| Giant City Elem School | Carbondale | Elementary | PK-08 | 218 | · |
| DeSoto Elementary School | De Soto | Elementary | PK-08 | 198 | · |
| Trico Jr High School | Campbell Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 182 | · |
| Elverado High School | Elkville | High | 09-12 | 102 | · |
| Elverado Primary School | Elkville | Elementary | PK-02 | 102 | · |
| Elverado Intermediate School | Vergennes | Elementary | 03-05 | 75 | · |
| Elverado Junior High School | Vergennes | Middle | 06-08 | 69 | · |
| McElvain School | Murphysboro | Elementary | PK-PK | 64 | · |
| Cope Alternative School | Murphysboro | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Five County Regional Alternative | Murphysboro | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Jackson/Perry MS TAOEP | Murphysboro | Middle | 06-08 | 0 | · |
| TCSE ASPIRE Academy | Murphysboro | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
| Eurma C Hayes Center | Carbondale | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE Carruthers Elem | Murphysboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE-CARBONDALE HS | Carbondale | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE-DESOTO ELEM | De Soto | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE-MCELVAIN EC | Murphysboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE-MURPHYSBORO HS | Murphysboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE-UNITY POINT ELEM | Carbondale | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Tri-County Center | Murphysboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Jackson County
About Jackson County
Jackson County is a low-population county of about 53,064 residents in Illinois. Its public-school system hosts approximately 6,811 students across 32 schools.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $48,763, about 36% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 11%. That income level is 31% below the Illinois median.
For a sense of the school types, Jackson County consists of 20 elementary schools (3,771 students), 5 middle schools (1,130), 6 high schools (1,910), and 1 combined or other schools.
Murphysboro CUSD 186 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,877 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment grew 3%: 6,601 students in SY 2020-21 versus 6,811 in SY 2024-25.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Jackson County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data