Top Rankings
Charleston CUSD 1 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 2,652 students in Charleston CUSD 1 School District. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Charleston CUSD 1 School District have an average math proficiency score of 14% (versus the Illinois public school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 21% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
4,399 Schools
# Students
2,652 Students
1,881,773 Students
# Teachers
176 Teachers
136,664 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Charleston CUSD 1 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#659 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)14%
28%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
30%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
50%
Graduation Rate
75%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.36
0.70
# American Indian Students
6 Students
4,556 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
26 Students
103,630 Students
% Asian Students
1%
6%
# Hispanic Students
153 Students
517,685 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
28%
# Black Students
176 Students
303,129 Students
% Black Students
7%
16%
# White Students
2,099 Students
837,178 Students
% White Students
79%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
1,684 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
190 Students
78,057 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
163
79,660
# Students in K Grade:
192
120,716
# Students in 1st Grade:
194
126,380
# Students in 2nd Grade:
194
167,371
# Students in 3rd Grade:
191
130,316
# Students in 4th Grade:
188
130,337
# Students in 5th Grade:
171
129,914
# Students in 6th Grade:
183
132,189
# Students in 7th Grade:
192
135,696
# Students in 8th Grade:
203
137,626
# Students in 9th Grade:
211
149,483
# Students in 10th Grade:
183
150,499
# Students in 11th Grade:
196
146,819
# Students in 12th Grade:
191
144,755
# Ungraded Students:
-
12
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,558 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,990. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,663 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$41 MM
$41,381 MM

Spending
$39 MM
$39,976 MM

Revenue / Student
$15,558
$21,990

Spending / Student
$14,663
$21,244

Best Charleston CUSD 1 School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Charleston High School
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1615 Lincoln Ave
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-5000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-5000
Grades: 9-12
| 780 students
Rank: #22.
Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1924 Reynolds Dr
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-4000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-4000
Grades: K-3
| 537 students
Rank: #33.
Charleston Middle School
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
920 Smith Dr
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-6000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-6000
Grades: 7-8
| 395 students
Rank: #44.
Ashmore Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
313 S Ohio St
Ashmore, IL 61912
(217) 349-3000
Ashmore, IL 61912
(217) 349-3000
Grades: K-4
| 72 students
Rank: #55.
Jefferson Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
801 Jefferson Ave
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-7000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-7000
Grades: 4-6
| 663 students
Rank: n/an/a
1021 13th St
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-8000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-8000
Grades: PK-K
| 205 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
Charleston CUSD 1 School District manages 6 public schools serving 2,652 students.
What is the rank of Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
Charleston CUSD 1 School District is ranked #646 out of 844 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2020-2021 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
79% of Charleston CUSD 1 School District students are White, 7% of students are Black, 7% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
Charleston CUSD 1 School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Charleston CUSD 1 School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,663 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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