Total enrollment
2,478
-466 (-16%) vs SY 2017-18
Union County
Illinois · Public K-12
Union County's school count of 18 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 2,478 students inside Illinois, around 15% of the county population. The level mix is 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Union County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
87%
was 88%
% Hispanic
9%
was 8%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
18
8 districts
Enrollment
2,478
NCES CCD
Median income
$55,728
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
63.0%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
10
1,288 students
Middle
4
445 students
High
4
745 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Anna CCSD 37
593 students · 8 districts in Union County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Union 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+
20.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.3% under 18
Test scores in Union County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Jonesboro Elem School· 79.3%
- Anna Junior High School· 68.0%
- Lick Creek Elem School· 64.6%
- Cobden Jr High School· 57.6%
- Cobden Elem School· 55.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Shawnee Elementary School· 20.4%
- Dongola Elementary School· 27.1%
- Dongola Jr High School· 34.8%
- Shawnee Jr High School· 37.9%
- Davie Elem School· 51.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna-Jonesboro High School | Anna | High | 09-12 | 476 | · |
| Jonesboro Elem School | Jonesboro | Elementary | PK-08 | 338 | · |
| Anna Junior High School | Anna | Middle | 05-08 | 236 | · |
| Lincoln Elem School | Anna | Elementary | PK-02 | 235 | · |
| Cobden Elem School | Cobden | Elementary | PK-05 | 223 | · |
| Shawnee Elementary School | Wolf Lake | Elementary | PK-05 | 136 | · |
| Cobden High School | Cobden | High | 09-12 | 135 | · |
| Lick Creek Elem School | Buncombe | Elementary | PK-08 | 126 | · |
| Davie Elem School | Anna | Elementary | 03-04 | 122 | · |
| Dongola Elementary School | Dongola | Elementary | PK-05 | 108 | · |
| Cobden Jr High School | Cobden | Middle | 06-08 | 96 | · |
| Shawnee High School | Wolf Lake | High | 09-12 | 72 | · |
| Dongola High School | Dongola | High | 09-12 | 62 | · |
| Shawnee Jr High School | Wolf Lake | Middle | 06-08 | 62 | · |
| Dongola Jr High School | Dongola | Middle | 06-08 | 51 | · |
| TCSE-Anna Jonesboro HS | Anna | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| TCSE-JONESBORO GRADE SCH | Jonesboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Tri-County South - Choate | Anna | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Union County
About Union County
In Illinois, Union County is a low-population county of about 16,997 residents. 18 public schools across the county teaches about 2,478 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $55,728 a year, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 21% noticeably below the Illinois median.
For a sense of the school types, Union County comprises 10 elementary schools (1,288 students), 4 middle schools (445), and 4 high schools (745).
Anna CCSD 37 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 593 students across Union County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 16%: 2,944 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,478 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 16 to 15 across the same 7-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Union 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
Union County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data