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Mercer County

Illinois · Public K-12

Mercer County in Illinois has 8 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 1,941 students with Mercer County School District 404 the largest district. That works out to 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Mercer County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,941
-199 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 92%
% Hispanic
3%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
1,941
NCES CCD
Median income
$74,182
Above Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.5%
Below Illinois avg
Elementary
5
1,078 students
Middle
2
452 students
High
1
411 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mercer County School District 404
1,274 students · 2 districts in Mercer County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Mercer 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
White
94%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
91%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
20.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
45
20.8% under 18

Test scores in Mercer County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.

See all 6 schools in Mercer County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Mercer County High SchoolAledoHigh09-12411·
Apollo Elem SchoolAledoElementaryKG-05362·
Mercer County Jr High SchoolAledoMiddle06-08270·
Winola Elementary SchoolViolaElementaryPK-04261·
Sherrard Elementary SchoolSherrardElementaryKG-04224·
Matherville Intermediate SchoolMathervilleMiddle05-06182·
New Boston Elem SchoolNew BostonElementaryKG-05165·
Mercer County ELCJoyElementaryPK-PK66·

Cities in Mercer County

Aledo3 schoolsJoy1 schoolMatherville1 schoolNew Boston1 schoolSherrard1 schoolViola1 school

About Mercer County

Across the rural-scale Illinois county of Mercer County of about 15,495 residents, the public-school footprint covers 8 schools and about 1,941 students.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $74,182, about 21% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 6% meaningfully above the Illinois median.

For a sense of the school types, Mercer County comprises 5 elementary schools (1,078 students), 2 middle schools (452), and 1 high school (411).

Mercer County School District 404 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,274 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,941 students, shrank 9% from the 2,140 reported in SY 2017-18.

On allk12, the community for Mercer County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Mercer County?
Mercer County, Illinois has 8 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,941 students.
How many high schools are in Mercer County?
Mercer County, Illinois has 1 public high school, serving approximately 411 students.
How many middle schools are in Mercer County?
Mercer County, Illinois has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 452 students.
How many elementary schools are in Mercer County?
Mercer County, Illinois has 5 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,078 students.
What is the largest school district in Mercer County?
Mercer County School District 404 is the largest school district in Mercer County, serving approximately 1,274 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Mercer County?
Mercer County, Illinois has a population of approximately 15,495, with a median age of 45. About 20.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Mercer County?
Median household income in Mercer County is $74,182, above the Illinois average of $70,291. About 6.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Mercer County?
Approximately 20.9% of adults 25 and older in Mercer County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Mercer County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 43.5% of students in Mercer County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Illinois county average of 51.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mercer County schools?
Across Mercer County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.3 to 1.

Mercer County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data