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Will Rogers Theatre and Commercial Block 2012-10-31 12-28-18Photo: jrmyers · CC BY-SA 3.0
D
Schools in Charleston · Charleston Community Unit School District 1

Charleston’s public schools score below 95% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

In Charleston, 14% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Charleston, 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.

#750of 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
21%
▼ 9 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
14%
▼ 12 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
65–69%
▼ 19–23 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.2K
▼ 34% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.8
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,491 students on the public path
In brief

Charleston’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 21% 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

65–69% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Charleston’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,205 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Charleston Middle School, then Charleston High School. 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 Charleston’s grade

C Test scoresD− Graduation

D: better than 5% of Illinois school districts, #750 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 5%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (731)Better than 5%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,318 test results and a graduating class of 199 could put Charleston anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Charleston’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,339 in math, 1,296 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–42 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC
7–8Charleston Middle SchoolCharleston Community Unit School District 1C
9–12Charleston High SchoolCharleston Community Unit School District 1B−

Charleston’s public schools are run by Charleston Community Unit School District 1, which also serves Ashmore, Ashmore, Charleston and Hutton and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Charleston Community Unit School District 1Grades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,744 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 14.8 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$14,205IL $21,567 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2020–21

Well below the state in reading

Reading21%
State average 29.9% · 1296 students tested
Math14%
State average 25.8% · 1339 students tested

Charleston vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CharlestonDCharleston Community Unit School District 1
Hutton—Charleston Community Unit School District 1
Charleston Township—Charleston Community Unit School District 1
MattoonB−Mattoon Community Unit School District 2

2 of the 3 neighbors share Charleston Community Unit School District 1 with Charleston, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Charleston

4 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 Charlestonin other towns
Mark Twain Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
221 students13:1Rate it →
Ashmore Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Ashmore
C
74 students9:1Rate it →
Charleston Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
C
401 students13:1Rate it →
Charleston High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
795 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Charleston’s schools

Are Charleston’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Charleston children attend score below 95% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #750 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 5%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Charleston in?

Charleston Community Unit School District 1, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,744 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Charleston kids go to high school?

Charleston High School, with 795 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Charleston’s graduation rate?

65–69% of the class of 2023 in Charleston Community Unit School District 1 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Charleston spend per student?

$14,205 in Charleston Community Unit School District 1 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Charleston families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Charleston → 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.