Total enrollment
6,359
-149 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Knox County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Knox County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Illinois | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 35.5% | #75 of 88 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,359 | #31 of 89 | #1,123 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 17 | #42 of 89 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.0:1 | #40 of 89 | #908 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 64.1% | #7 of 89 | #936 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 49.5% | #25 of 89 | #1,120 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.
Knox County school rankings
Residents
49,046
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
26
7 districts
Enrollment
6,359
students · 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 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Knox County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 6,508 students to 6,359.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data