Total enrollment
2,922
+40 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Shelby County
Illinois · Public K-12
Shelby County, Illinois comes in at 14 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 2,922 students, with a county median household income near $72,095. By level, that breaks down as 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Shelby County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Shelby County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Illinois | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 50.1% | #8 of 88 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,922 | #55 of 89 | #1,872 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #55 of 89 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.1:1 | #20 of 89 | #575 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 45.6% | #67 of 89 | #1,835 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 11.9% | #83 of 89 | #2,465 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.
Shelby County school rankings
Residents
20,720
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
14
7 districts
Enrollment
2,922
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$72,095
Above Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
45.6%
Below Illinois avg
Elementary
6
1,338 students
Middle
2
579 students
High
6
1,005 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Shelbyville CUSD 4
1,248 students · 7 districts in Shelby County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Shelby 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+
18.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.0%
civilian labor
Median age
45
21.3% under 18
Test scores in Shelby County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Cowden-Herrick Jr/Sr High School· 76.9%
- Cowden-Herrick Grade School· 76.1%
- Main Street Elementary School· 73.1%
- Moulton Elementary School· 71.7%
- Okaw Valley Middle School· 63.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Windsor Jr & Sr High School· 42.5%
- Windsor Elem School· 46.5%
- Gregory Intermediate· 53.3%
- Stewardson-Strasburg Elem School· 62.7%
- Okaw Valley Middle School· 63.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moulton Elementary School | Shelbyville | Middle | 04-08 | 455 | · |
| Main Street Elementary School | Shelbyville | Elementary | 01-03 | 370 | · |
| Shelbyville High School | Shelbyville | High | 09-12 | 345 | · |
| Stewardson-Strasburg Elem School | Strasburg | Elementary | PK-08 | 290 | · |
| Windsor Elem School | Windsor | Elementary | PK-06 | 225 | · |
| Central A & M High School | Moweaqua | High | 09-12 | 215 | · |
| Gregory Intermediate | Moweaqua | Elementary | 02-05 | 200 | · |
| Cowden-Herrick Grade School | Herrick | Elementary | KG-05 | 175 | · |
| Cowden-Herrick Jr/Sr High School | Cowden | High | 06-12 | 168 | · |
| Stewardson-Strasburg High School | Strasburg | High | 09-12 | 143 | · |
| Windsor Jr & Sr High School | Windsor | High | 07-12 | 134 | · |
| Okaw Valley Middle School | Findlay | Middle | 05-08 | 124 | · |
| Shelbyville Kindergarten Center | Shelbyville | Elementary | KG-KG | 78 | · |
| Shelbyville Bridges | Shelbyville | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Shelby County
About Shelby County
Across the low-population Illinois county of Shelby County of about 20,720 residents, the public-school footprint covers 14 schools and about 2,922 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $72,095 a year, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%.
On the school-mix side, Shelby County covers 6 elementary schools (1,338 students), 2 middle schools (579), and 6 high schools (1,005).
Shelbyville CUSD 4 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,248 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 2,882 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,922 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Shelby County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data