Parrish Elem School

Parrish Elem School is an elementary-level community of mid-sized scale in Carbondale, Illinois, run under Carbondale ESD 95, teacheing 466 students in grades pre-K through 1. That puts it 22% above the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 381 students.

Parrish Elem School is one of 4 schools operated by Carbondale ESD 95, a district that caters to 1,648 students overall.

On demographics, Parrish Elem School reports that the largest single group is Black at 53%, but no single group is in the majority. The remainder breaks down as 21% White, 12% Hispanic, 11% multiracial, 3% Asian. That is considerably more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 14%.

In terms of school funding signals, Parrish Elem School reports 32 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 14.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Parrish Elem School higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 79% of students at Parrish Elem School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

Across the wider county, community-level numbers for Jackson County indicate the typical household earns roughly $48,763 per year, 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. In all, Jackson County runs 32 public schools (combined enrollment of about 6,811 students), of which Parrish Elem School is one.

The closest other public school is Thomas Elementary School, roughly 2.4 miles away. Within five miles, there are 6 other public schools.

Parrish Elem School operates from a small-town location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Parrish Elem School has showed little movement, going from 462 students in 2018 to 466 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share contracted from 29% to 21%. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 15.8:1 in 2018 to 14.7:1 today.

On this page, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.