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Liberty Theater in MurphysboroPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
C
Schools in Murphysboro Township · Carbondale Community High School District 165, Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186

Murphysboro Township’s public schools score below 69% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Murphysboro Township’s districts is 13%, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Murphysboro 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.

#577of 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
17%
▼ 13 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
13%
▼ 13 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
80%
▼ 8 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.3K
▼ 20% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186
Students per teacher
13.2
IL 13.6
Schools in town
4
2,836 students on the public path
In brief

Murphysboro Township’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 944 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Murphysboro Township’s, its schools beat 37%, higher than their 31% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 17% 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

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 Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 $17,286, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Andrew Catholic School (private) and Immanuel Lutheran School (private) are 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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Murphysboro Township’s grade

C− Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 31% of Illinois school districts, #577 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 31%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (944)Better than 37%
Towns in Jackson County (16)Better than 50%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,108 test results and a graduating class of 249 could put Murphysboro Township anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Murphysboro Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,027 in math, 1,189 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Gen John A Logan Attendance CntrMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186No scores
3–5Carruthers Elementary Schoolin MurphysboroC
6–8Murphysboro Middle SchoolMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186D
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+

Murphysboro Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186). From grade 9, students attend the Carbondale Community High School District 165, shared with Carbondale, Carbondale, De Soto, De Soto, Makanda, Makanda and Pomona. Its elementary school is in Murphysboro. Parts of Murphysboro Township (9% of its land) are served by Carbondale Elementary School District 95 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Murphysboro Township

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−
Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186Grades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,877 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 12.7 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$17,286IL $21,567 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2020–21

Well 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–12, Murphysboro Community Unit School District 18613%
State average 29.9% · 966 students tested
Math · PK–12, Murphysboro Community Unit School District 1869%
State average 25.8% · 809 students tested

Murphysboro Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Murphysboro TownshipCMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186 PK–12 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12
SomersetCMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186 PK–12 · Elverado Community Unit School District 196 PK–12
Sand Ridge—Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186
Carbondale—Carbondale Elementary School District 95 PK–8 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12
Pomona—Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 PK–12 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12
Carbondale (city)CCarbondale Elementary School District 95 PK–8 · Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140 PK–8 · Carbondale Community High School District 165 9–12

3 of the 5 neighbors share Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 with Murphysboro Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Murphysboro Township

7 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).

District schools in Murphysboro Townshipby address
Gen John A Logan Attendance Cntr
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Murphysboro
400 students12:1Rate it →
Murphysboro Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Murphysboro
D
422 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Murphysboro Townshipin other towns
Carruthers Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Murphysboro
C
426 students15:1Rate it →
Carbondale Comm H S
High · Grades 9–12 · Carbondale
B+
1,023 students14:1Rate it →
Murphysboro High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Murphysboro
C+
565 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Andrew Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Murphysboro
Private · Catholic
159 students14:1Rate it →
Immanuel Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–7 · Murphysboro
Private · Religious
90 students20:1Rate it →

Left off: 5 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Tri-County Center, TCSE ASPIRE Academy, Five County Regional Alternative, Cope Alternative School and Jackson/Perry MS TAOEP).

Questions about Murphysboro Township’s schools

Are Murphysboro Township’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Murphysboro Township children attend score below 69% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #577 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 37%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Murphysboro Township in?

Two districts: Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 runs grades PK–12, and Carbondale Community High School District 165 runs grades 9–12, shared with Carbondale, Carbondale, De Soto, De Soto, Makanda, Makanda and Pomona.

Where do Murphysboro Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Carbondale Comm H S and Murphysboro High School.

What is Murphysboro Township’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 Murphysboro Township spend per student?

$22,399 in Carbondale Community High School District 165 and $17,286 in Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Murphysboro Township?

Yes: St. Andrew Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 159 students) and Immanuel Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–7, 90 students).

Parents talk

What Murphysboro Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Murphysboro 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.