Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Murphysboro

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Liberty Theater in MurphysboroPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
C
Schools in Murphysboro · Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186

Murphysboro’s public schools score below 72% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

9% of students in Murphysboro’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Murphysboro, 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.

#605of 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
13%
▼ 17 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
9%
▼ 17 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 1–3 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.3K
▼ 20% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.7
IL 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,813 students on the public path
In brief

Murphysboro’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 456 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Murphysboro’s, its schools beat 36%, higher than their 28% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 13% of tested students were proficient in reading and 9% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois (the state reports Murphysboro’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,286 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Carruthers Elementary School, then Murphysboro Middle School, then Murphysboro 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 Murphysboro’s grade

D Test scoresC+ Graduation

C: better than 28% of Illinois school districts, #605 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 28%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (456)Better than 36%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 888 test results and a graduating class of 152 could put Murphysboro anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Murphysboro’s students in the tested grades sat them (809 in math, 966 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Murphysboro, 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 SchoolMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186C
6–8Murphysboro Middle SchoolMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186D
9–12Murphysboro High SchoolMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186C+

Murphysboro’s public schools are run by Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186, which also serves Gorham, Levan, Murphysboro and Pomona 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.

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

Reading13%
State average 29.9% · 966 students tested
Math9%
State average 25.8% · 809 students tested

Murphysboro vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MurphysboroCMurphysboro Community Unit School District 186

Every school in Murphysboro

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 Murphysboroin other towns
Gen John A Logan Attendance Cntr
Elementary · Grades K–2
400 students12:1Rate it →
Carruthers Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
C
426 students15:1Rate it →
Murphysboro Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
422 students12:1Rate it →
Murphysboro High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
565 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Murphysboro’s schools

Are Murphysboro’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Murphysboro children attend score below 72% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #605 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 36%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Murphysboro in?

Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,877 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Murphysboro kids go to high school?

Murphysboro High School, with 565 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Murphysboro’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Murphysboro spend per student?

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

Parents talk

What Murphysboro families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Murphysboro → 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.