Lafayette Township’s public schools score below 76% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
In Lafayette Township, 13% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lafayette Township, 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.
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.
Lafayette Township’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 23% of tested students were proficient in reading and 13% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 spends $15,880 per student and Charleston Community Unit School District 1 $14,205, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
St. Johns Lutheran School (private) is in town. Every school ↓
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.
What’s behind Lafayette Township’s grade
C−: better than 24% of Illinois school districts, #617 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lafayette Township, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Franklin Elementary School
Grades PK · 243 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Mark Twain Elem School
Grades PK–K · 221 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
5th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Jefferson Elem School
Grades 4–6 · 698 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
Arland D Williams Jr Elem Sch
Grades K–5 · 653 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Riddle Elementary School
Grades K–5 · 589 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
6th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Jefferson Elem School
Grades 4–6 · 698 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
Mattoon Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 610 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
7th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Mattoon Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 610 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Charleston Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 401 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
8th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Mattoon Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 610 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Charleston Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 401 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
9th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Mattoon High School
Grades 9–12 · 888 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Charleston High School
Grades 9–12 · 795 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
10th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Mattoon High School
Grades 9–12 · 888 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Charleston High School
Grades 9–12 · 795 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
11th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Mattoon High School
Grades 9–12 · 888 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Charleston High School
Grades 9–12 · 795 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
12th grade in Lafayette Township · depends on your address
Mattoon High School
Grades 9–12 · 888 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Mattoon
Charleston High School
Grades 9–12 · 795 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Charleston
Lafayette Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Mattoon Community Unit School District 2). From grade PK, students attend the Charleston Community Unit School District 1, shared with Ashmore, Ashmore, Charleston, Charleston, Hutton, Lerna, Morgan, Pleasant Grove and Seven Hickory. Its elementary school is in Mattoon. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Lafayette Township
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Lafayette Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Lafayette Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Township | C− | Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 PK–12 · Charleston Community Unit School District 1 PK–12 |
| Humboldt | B− | Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 PK–12 · Arcola Consolidated Unit School District 306 PK–12 |
| Mattoon | — | Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 |
| Mattoon (city) | B− | Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 |
| Charleston | — | Charleston Community Unit School District 1 |
| Pleasant Grove | C− | Charleston Community Unit School District 1 PK–12 · Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 PK–12 |
4 of the 5 neighbors share Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 with Lafayette Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Lafayette Township
9 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).
1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about Lafayette Township’s schools
Are Lafayette Township’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lafayette Township children attend score below 76% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #617 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 21%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Lafayette Township in?
Two districts: Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 runs grades PK–12, and Charleston Community Unit School District 1 runs grades PK–12, shared with Ashmore, Ashmore, Charleston, Charleston, Hutton, Lerna, Morgan, Pleasant Grove and Seven Hickory.
Where do Lafayette Township kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Mattoon High School and Charleston High School.
What is Lafayette Township’s graduation rate?
92% of the class of 2023 in Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Lafayette Township spend per student?
$15,880 in Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 and $14,205 in Charleston Community Unit School District 1 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Lafayette Township?
Yes: St. Johns Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–9, 457 students).
Parents talk
What Lafayette Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lafayette Township → 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.