Total enrollment
6,359
-552 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Knox County
Illinois · Public K-12
Knox County sits inside Illinois and runs 26 public K-12 schools, enrolling about 6,359 students. Galesburg Cusd 205 alone accounts for 3,863 of those students. By grade band, the county runs 9 elementary, 4 middle, and 13 high schools.
7-year change in Knox County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
-4 (-19%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
69%
was 72%
% Hispanic
9%
was 9%
% Black
11%
was 9%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
26
7 districts
Enrollment
6,359
NCES CCD
Median income
$57,030
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
64.1%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
9
2,909 students
Middle
4
1,397 students
High
13
2,053 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Galesburg CUSD 205
3,863 students · 7 districts in Knox County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Knox 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+
21.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.1%
civilian labor
Median age
43
20.2% under 18
Test scores in Knox County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Williamsfield Elem School· 81.8%
- Williamsfield Middle School· 61.7%
- R O W V A Elem School· 61.6%
- Mable Woolsey Elem School· 60.5%
- Knoxville Jr High School· 56.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- King School· 32.1%
- Galesburg Jr High School· 32.7%
- Lombard Middle School· 35.6%
- Steele School· 35.6%
- Silas Willard Elem School· 38.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galesburg Senior High School | Galesburg | High | 09-12 | 1,158 | · |
| Steele School | Galesburg | Elementary | KG-04 | 542 | · |
| Lombard Middle School | Galesburg | Middle | 05-06 | 534 | · |
| Galesburg Jr High School | Galesburg | Middle | 07-08 | 518 | · |
| King School | Galesburg | Elementary | KG-04 | 510 | · |
| Silas Willard Elem School | Galesburg | Elementary | KG-04 | 425 | · |
| Mable Woolsey Elem School | Knoxville | Elementary | PK-04 | 383 | · |
| Hedding Grade Sch | Abingdon | Elementary | PK-05 | 376 | · |
| R O W V A Elem School | Oneida | Elementary | PK-06 | 369 | · |
| Abingdon-Avon High Sch | Abingdon | High | 09-12 | 278 | · |
| Knoxville Sr High School | Knoxville | High | 09-12 | 272 | · |
| Knoxville Jr High School | Knoxville | Middle | 05-08 | 262 | · |
| R O W V A Jr and Sr High School | Oneida | High | 07-12 | 248 | · |
| Bright Futures Pre-K Prog | Galesburg | Elementary | PK-KG | 176 | · |
| Williamsfield Elem School | Williamsfield | Elementary | PK-04 | 128 | · |
| Williamsfield High School | Williamsfield | High | 09-12 | 97 | · |
| Williamsfield Middle School | Williamsfield | Middle | 05-08 | 83 | · |
| Galesburg Area Voc Ctr | Galesburg | High | 10-12 | 0 | · |
| Knox Co Mary Davis Detention Home | Galesburg | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| RAES East Alt Ed | Galesburg | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| RAES Night School | Galesburg | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| RAES RSSP | Galesburg | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| RAES West | Galesburg | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| RAES West Alt Ed | Galesburg | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| ROE 33 ALOP | Galesburg | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| Knox-Warren SpEd Multi-Needs Prog | Galesburg | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Knox County
About Knox County
Across the rural-scale Illinois county of Knox County of about 49,046 residents, the public-school footprint covers 26 schools and about 6,359 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $57,030, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 19% lower than the Illinois median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Knox County covers 9 elementary schools (2,909 students), 4 middle schools (1,397), and 13 high schools (2,053).
Galesburg CUSD 205 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,863 students across Knox County.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Knox County has fell 8% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 6,911 students to 6,359. Knox County now counts 17 public schools, down from 21 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment decreased from 72% to 69%.
On allk12, the community for Knox County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Knox County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data