Charleston CUSD 1 School District

410 W Polk Ave
Charleston, IL 61920-2557
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Charleston CUSD 1 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 2,744 students in Charleston CUSD 1 School District. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Charleston CUSD 1 School District have an average math proficiency score of 14% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 21% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
4,384 Schools
# Students
2,744 Students
1,842,069 Students
# Teachers
187 Teachers
137,865 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Charleston CUSD 1 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 861 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 67% has decreased from 85-89% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#675 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
14%
27%
21%
30%
55%
50%
67%
87%
(2022-23)
35%
29.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.41
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
7%
29%
% Black
8%
16%
% White
76%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,036 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,464. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,171 is less than the state median of $21,702. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$41 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$39 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,036
$22,464
Spending / Student
$14,171
$21,702

Best Charleston CUSD 1 School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Carl Sandburg Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1924 Reynolds Dr
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-4000
Gr: 1-3 | 555 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #22.
Charleston High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1615 Lincoln Ave
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-5000
Gr: 9-12 | 795 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #33.
Charleston Middle School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
920 Smith Dr
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-6000
Gr: 7-8 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #44.
Ashmore Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
313 S Ohio St
Ashmore, IL 61912
(217) 349-3000
Gr: K-4 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #55.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
801 Jefferson Ave
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-7000
Gr: 4-6 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: n/an/a
1021 13th St
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-8000
Gr: PK-K | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
Charleston CUSD 1 School District manages 6 public schools serving 2,744 students.
What is the rank of Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
Charleston CUSD 1 School District is ranked #678 out of 861 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
76% of Charleston CUSD 1 School District students are White, 8% of students are Black, 8% of students are Two or more races, 7% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Charleston CUSD 1 School District?
Charleston CUSD 1 School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Charleston CUSD 1 School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,171 is less than the state median of $21,702. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,744 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 24%
  • : 67% (Btm 50% in IL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 14% (Btm 50%)
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • : 55% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

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