McElvain School

McElvain School operates as a tiny elementary campus in Murphysboro, Illinois, part of Murphysboro CUSD 186. Current enrollment sits at 64 students spanning grade pre-K. Enrollment runs roughly 83% smaller than the state mean of about 381.

Across the 5 schools in Murphysboro CUSD 186 (1,877 students total), McElvain School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, McElvain School shows that 75% of the student body identifies as White. The remainder looks like 13% multiracial, 6% Hispanic, 6% Black. That composition is broadly in line with Jackson County as a whole.

On the resource side, Around 97% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is noticeably above Jackson County's rate of about 73%.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for Jackson County indicate median household income runs about $48,763, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. In all, Jackson County runs 32 public schools (combined enrollment of about 6,811 students), of which McElvain School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Murphysboro High School, around 1.8 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 4 other public schools cluster around McElvain School.

McElvain School operates from a low-density location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged down 36%: 100 students in 2018 compared to 64 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked down from 81% to 75% over that span.

On the community side, the feed for McElvain School typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.