Total enrollment
5,636
-837 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
Marion County
Illinois · Public K-12
Inside Marion County, Illinois, public K-12 schools number 27 and serve about 5,636 students out of a population of 37,000. The level mix is 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high schools.
7-year change in Marion County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
22
-6 (-21%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 86%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
6%
was 5%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
27
15 districts
Enrollment
5,636
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,240
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
63.7%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
15
2,436 students
Middle
5
1,355 students
High
7
1,845 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Salem SD 111
949 students · 15 districts in Marion County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Marion 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+
16.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.9%
civilian labor
Median age
42
23.5% under 18
Test scores in Marion County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Iuka Comm Cons School· 76.1%
- Franklin Park Middle School· 66.2%
- Raccoon Cons Elem School· 65.9%
- Central City Elem School· 60.4%
- Patoka Elem School· 60.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Sandoval Jr High School· 13.4%
- Odin Attendance Center K-8· 22.9%
- Sandoval Elem School· 26.1%
- South Central Middle School· 27.1%
- Jordan Elem School· 30.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia High School | Centralia | High | 09-12 | 887 | · |
| Salem Community High School | Salem | High | 09-12 | 706 | · |
| Centralia Jr High School | Centralia | Middle | 04-08 | 559 | · |
| Franklin Park Middle School | Salem | Middle | 04-08 | 528 | · |
| Hawthorn Elem School | Salem | Elementary | KG-03 | 421 | · |
| Central City Elem School | Centralia | Elementary | PK-08 | 276 | · |
| South Central Elementary-Kinmundy | Kinmundy | Elementary | PK-05 | 269 | · |
| Iuka Comm Cons School | Iuka | Elementary | PK-08 | 231 | · |
| Jordan Elem School | Centralia | Elementary | 02-03 | 228 | · |
| Selmaville Elem School | Salem | Elementary | PK-08 | 223 | · |
| Sandoval Elem School | Sandoval | Elementary | PK-06 | 221 | · |
| Raccoon Cons Elem School | Centralia | Elementary | PK-08 | 204 | · |
| Odin Attendance Center K-8 | Odin | Elementary | PK-08 | 192 | · |
| South Central Middle School | Kinmundy | Middle | 06-08 | 140 | · |
| Sandoval Sr High School | Sandoval | High | 09-12 | 124 | · |
| Patoka Elem School | Patoka | Elementary | PK-05 | 96 | · |
| Sandoval Jr High School | Sandoval | Middle | 06-08 | 84 | · |
| Odin Attendance Center 9-12 | Odin | High | 09-12 | 67 | · |
| Kell Grade School | Kell | Elementary | PK-08 | 64 | · |
| Patoka Sr High School | Patoka | High | 09-12 | 61 | · |
| Patoka Jr High School | Patoka | Middle | 06-08 | 44 | · |
| Centralia Pre-Kindergarten Ctr | Centralia | Elementary | PK-PK | 11 | · |
| Centralia Alternative School | Centralia | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| Safe School Program Centralia | Centralia | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Bridges Learning Center | Centralia | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Hoyleton Education Center | Centralia | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Kaskaskia Education Center | Centralia | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Marion County
About Marion County
Across the compact Illinois county of Marion County of about 37,000 residents, the public-school footprint covers 27 schools and about 5,636 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $61,240, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 13% lower than the Illinois median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Marion County is made up of 15 elementary schools (2,436 students), 5 middle schools (1,355), and 7 high schools (1,845).
Salem SD 111 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 949 students across Marion County.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 13%: 6,473 students in SY 2017-18 versus 5,636 in SY 2024-25. Marion County now counts 22 public schools, down from 28 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 86% to 83%.
On allk12, the community for Marion 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
Marion County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data