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Pope County

Illinois · Public K-12

The schools list below covers the full public K-12 directory for Pope County: 2 campuses, 442 students, Pope Co Cud 1 as the largest district. The level mix is 1 elementary and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Pope County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
442
-90 (-17%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
2
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 94%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
2
1 districts
Enrollment
442
NCES CCD
Median income
$60,050
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
53.2%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
1
300 students
Middle
0
schools
High
1
142 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Pope Co CUD 1
442 students · 1 district in Pope County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Pope 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
89%
Hispanic
3%
Black
5%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
93%
Hispanic
2%
Black
n/r
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
15.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.8%
civilian labor
Median age
54
14.4% under 18

Test scores in Pope County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 1 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.

Top 1 schools (ELA)
  1. Pope County Elementary School· 48.8%

See all 1 schools in Pope County ranked by score →

All schools (2)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Pope County Elementary SchoolGolcondaElementaryPK-08300·
Pope Co High SchoolGolcondaHigh09-12142·

Cities in Pope County

Golconda2 schools

About Pope County

Pope County is a compact county of about 3,739 residents in Illinois. Its public-school system instructs approximately 442 students across 2 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $60,050, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 15% meaningfully below the Illinois median.

On the school-mix side, Pope County is made up of 1 elementary school (300 students), and 1 high school (142).

Pope Co CUD 1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 442 students across Pope County.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 17%: 532 students in SY 2017-18 versus 442 in SY 2024-25.

On allk12, the community for Pope 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

How many K-12 schools serve Pope County?
There are 2 public K-12 schools in Pope County, Illinois, with a combined enrollment of about 442.
How many high schools are in Pope County?
Pope County, Illinois has 1 public high school, serving approximately 142 students.
How many elementary schools are in Pope County?
Pope County, Illinois has 1 public elementary school, serving approximately 300 students.
What is the largest school district in Pope County?
Pope Co CUD 1 is the largest school district in Pope County, serving approximately 442 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
How many people live in Pope County?
Pope County has roughly 3,739 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Pope County?
Median household income in Pope County is $60,050, below the Illinois average of $70,291. About 9.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Pope County?
Approximately 15.7% of adults 25 and older in Pope County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Pope County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 53.2% of students in Pope County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Illinois county average of 51.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pope County schools?
Across Pope County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.8 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Pope County?
Pope County residents are approximately 89% White, 3% Hispanic, 5% Black, 4% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data