For the 2025 school year, there are 33 public schools serving 6,875 students in Jackson County, IL (there are , serving 513 private students). 93% of all K-12 students in Jackson County, IL are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
The top ranked public schools in Jackson County, IL are Giant City Elementary School, Unity Point Elementary School and Elverado Junior High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Jackson County, IL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 18% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 24% (versus the 30% statewide average). Schools in Jackson County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Illinois public schools.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Jackson County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Giant City Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1062 Boskydell Rd
Carbondale, IL 62902
(618) 457-5391
Carbondale, IL 62902
(618) 457-5391
Grades: PK-8
| 242 students
Rank: #22.
Unity Point Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4033 S Illinois Ave
Carbondale, IL 62903
(618) 529-4151
Carbondale, IL 62903
(618) 529-4151
Grades: PK-8
| 660 students
Rank: #33.
Elverado Junior High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
190 Harrison St
Vergennes, IL 62994
(618) 684-3527
Vergennes, IL 62994
(618) 684-3527
Grades: 6-8
| 69 students
Rank: #44.
Carbondale Comm High School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1301 E Walnut St
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-3371
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-3371
Grades: 9-12
| 995 students
Rank: #55.
Elverado Intermediate School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
190 Harrison St
Vergennes, IL 62994
(618) 684-3527
Vergennes, IL 62994
(618) 684-3527
Grades: 3-5
| 73 students
Rank: #66.
Elverado High School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
514 S 6th St
Elkville, IL 62932
(618) 568-1104
Elkville, IL 62932
(618) 568-1104
Grades: 9-12
| 113 students
Rank: #77.
Trico Senior High School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
16533 Highway 4
Campbell Hill, IL 62916
(618) 426-1111
Campbell Hill, IL 62916
(618) 426-1111
Grades: 9-12
| 227 students
Rank: #88.
Trico Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
16343 Highway 4
Campbell Hill, IL 62916
(618) 426-1111
Campbell Hill, IL 62916
(618) 426-1111
Grades: PK-5
| 466 students
Rank: #99.
Desoto Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
311 Hurst Rd
De Soto, IL 62924
(618) 867-2317
De Soto, IL 62924
(618) 867-2317
Grades: PK-8
| 192 students
Rank: #1010.
Carruthers Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
80 Candy Ln
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-3231
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-3231
Grades: 3-5
| 420 students
Rank: #1111.
Gen John A Logan Attendance Center
(Math: 23% | Reading: 20% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
320 Watson Rd
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-4471
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-4471
Grades: K-2
| 394 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Murphysboro High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
50 Blackwood Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-2336
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-2336
Grades: 9-12
| 604 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Trico Jr High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
16533 Highway 4
Campbell Hill, IL 62916
(618) 426-1111
Campbell Hill, IL 62916
(618) 426-1111
Grades: 6-8
| 183 students
Rank: #1414.
Lewis School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
801 S Lewis Ln
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-5393
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-5393
Grades: 4-5
| 309 students
Rank: #1515.
Thomas Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1025 N Wall St
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-6226
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-6226
Grades: 2-3
| 366 students
Rank: #1616.
Carbondale Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1150 E Grand Ave
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-2174
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-2174
Grades: 6-8
| 468 students
Rank: #1717.
Murphysboro Middle School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2125 Spruce St
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-3041
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-3041
Grades: 6-8
| 432 students
Rank: #1818.
Tri-county Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1725 Shomaker Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-2109
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-2109
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Cope Alternative School
Alternative School
1725b Shomaker Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
114 S 8th St
Elkville, IL 62932
(618) 568-1321
Elkville, IL 62932
(618) 568-1321
Grades: PK-2
| 107 students
Rank: n/an/a
Eurma C Hayes Center
Special Education School
441 E Willow St
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 684-2109
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 684-2109
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Five County Regional Alternative
Alternative School
1001 Walnut Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Jackson/perry Middle School Taoep
Alternative School
1725b Shomaker Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Grades: 6-8
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
121 N Parrish Ln
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-5781
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-5781
Grades: PK-1
| 475 students
Rank: n/an/a
Project Soar
Alternative School
1725b Shomaker Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7290
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse Aspire Academy
Special Education School
805 N 16th St
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-2109
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-2109
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse Carruthers Elementary School
Special Education School
80 Candy Ln
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-3231
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-3231
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-carbondale High School
Special Education School
330 S Giant City Rd
Carbondale, IL 62902
(618) 457-4722
Carbondale, IL 62902
(618) 457-4722
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-desoto Elementary School
Special Education School
311 Hurst Rd
De Soto, IL 62924
(618) 867-2317
De Soto, IL 62924
(618) 867-2317
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-mcelvain Ec
Special Education School
593 Ava Rd
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-3781
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-3781
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-murphysboro High School
Special Education School
50 Blackwood Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-2336
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-2336
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-unity Point Elementary School
Special Education School
4033 S Illinois Ave
Carbondale, IL 62903
(618) 529-4151
Carbondale, IL 62903
(618) 529-4151
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Jackson County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Iyc Murphysboro High School (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
636 Elza Brantley Dr
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-8500
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-8500
Grades: 7-12
| n/a students
593 Ava Road
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-6273
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-6273
Grades: K-5
| 161 students
504 2nd St
Grand Tower, IL 62942
(618) 565-2211
Grand Tower, IL 62942
(618) 565-2211
Grades: K-4
| 56 students
Tri-county-mcelvain (Closed 2013)
Special Education School
593 Ava Rd
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-8972
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 684-8972
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
801 S Lewis Ln
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-5393
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-5393
Grades: 4-5
| 272 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Jackson County, IL?
The top ranked public schools in Jackson County, IL include Giant City Elementary School, Unity Point Elementary School and Elverado Junior High School.
How many public schools are located in Jackson County?
33 public schools are located in Jackson County.
What percentage of students in Jackson County go to public school?
93% of all K-12 students in Jackson County are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Jackson County?
Jackson County public schools minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Illinois public schools average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Jackson County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Jackson County include: Unity Point Elementary School vs. Giant City Elementary School, Murphysboro High School vs. Carbondale Comm High School, Carbondale Comm High School vs. Murphysboro High School
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