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SIUC FanerPhoto: Bradley Furlow · CC BY-SA 4.0
C
Schools in Carbondale · Carbondale Community High School District 165, Carbondale Elementary School District 95

Carbondale’s public schools score below 68% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

In Carbondale, 14% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Carbondale, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.

#569of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
26%
▼ 4 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
14%
▼ 12 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
80%
▼ 8 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.6K
▼ 9% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Carbondale Elementary School District 95
Students per teacher
13.4
IL 13.6
Schools in town
0
2,109 students on the public path
In brief

Carbondale’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 62 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Carbondale’s, its schools beat 53%, higher than their 32% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 26% of tested students were proficient in reading and 14% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Carbondale Community High School District 165 spends $22,399 per student and Carbondale Elementary School District 95 $19,629, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 9 the district’s path is Carbondale Comm H S. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Carbondale’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 32% of Illinois school districts, #569 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 32%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (62)Better than 53%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,286 test results and a graduating class of 249 could put Carbondale anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Carbondale’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,093 in math, 1,481 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Carbondale, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–82 schoolsDepends on your addressB
9–12Carbondale Comm H SCarbondale Community High School District 165B+

To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Carbondale

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Carbondale Community High School District 165Grades 9–12 · 1 schools · 1,023 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 14.1 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$22,399IL $21,567 · FY2024
B−
Carbondale Elementary School District 95Grades PK–8 · 4 schools · 1,648 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 13.7 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$19,629IL $21,567 · FY2024
D
Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140Grades PK–8 · 1 schools · 620 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 11.9 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$14,579IL $21,567 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2020–21

Below the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Carbondale Community High School District 16532%
State average 29.9% · 223 students tested
Math · 9–12, Carbondale Community High School District 16526%
State average 25.8% · 218 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Carbondale Elementary School District 9515%
State average 29.9% · 882 students tested
Math · PK–8, Carbondale Elementary School District 957%
State average 25.8% · 538 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 14048%
State average 29.9% · 376 students tested
Math · PK–8, Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 14016%
State average 25.8% · 337 students tested

Carbondale vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Carbondale’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CarbondaleCCarbondale Elementary School District 95 PK–8 · Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140 PK–8 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12
MurphysboroCMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186 PK–12 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12
Carbondale Township—Carbondale Elementary School District 95 PK–8 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12

All 2 neighbors share Carbondale Community High School District 165 with Carbondale for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Carbondale

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Carbondalein other towns
Unity Point Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
B
620 students12:1Rate it →
Parrish Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
466 students15:1Rate it →
Carbondale Comm H S
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,023 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Carbondale’s schools

Are Carbondale’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Carbondale children attend score below 68% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #569 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Carbondale in?

Carbondale Community High School District 165, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 1,023 students in 1 schools (2024–25).

Where do Carbondale kids go to high school?

Carbondale Comm H S, with 1,023 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Carbondale’s graduation rate?

80% of the class of 2023 in Carbondale Community High School District 165 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Carbondale spend per student?

$22,399 in Carbondale Community High School District 165, $19,629 in Carbondale Elementary School District 95 and $14,579 in Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Carbondale families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Carbondale → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.