For the 2026 school year, there are 30 public schools serving 5,325 students in Jefferson County, IL (there are 3 private schools, serving 161 private students). 97% of all K-12 students in Jefferson County, IL are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
The top-ranked public schools in Jefferson County, IL are Communication Disorders / Autism Jefferson County, Oakland Education Center and Summersville Grade School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Jefferson County, IL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 16% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 21% (versus the 30% statewide average). Schools in Jefferson County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Illinois public schools.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Jefferson County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Communication Disorders / Autism Jefferson County
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1118 Fairfield Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 439-7231
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 439-7231
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Oakland Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
720 Casey Ave
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-5720
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-5720
Rank: #33.
Summersville Grade School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1118 Fairfield Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8079
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8079
Gr: PK-8 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #44.
Farrington Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
20941 E Divide Rd
Bluford, IL 62814
(618) 755-4414
Bluford, IL 62814
(618) 755-4414
Gr: K-8 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #55.
Woodlawn Grade School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
301 S Central St
Woodlawn, IL 62898
(618) 735-2661
Woodlawn, IL 62898
(618) 735-2661
Gr: PK-8 | 322 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #66.
Opdyke-belle Rive Grade School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
19830 E Fourth St
Opdyke, IL 62872
(618) 756-2492
Opdyke, IL 62872
(618) 756-2492
Gr: PK-8 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #77.
Mcclellan Elementary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
9475 N Il Highway 148
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8072
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8072
Gr: K-8 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #88.
Rome Comm Cons Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
233 W South St
Dix, IL 62830
(618) 266-7214
Dix, IL 62830
(618) 266-7214
Gr: PK-8 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #99.
Waltonville High School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
804 W Knob St
Waltonville, IL 62894
(618) 279-7211
Waltonville, IL 62894
(618) 279-7211
Gr: 9-12 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #1010.
Bluford Grade School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
901 6th St
Bluford, IL 62814
(618) 732-8242
Bluford, IL 62814
(618) 732-8242
Gr: PK-8 | 236 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Bethel Grade School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1201 Bethel Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8095
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8095
Gr: PK-8 | 154 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Waltonville Grade School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
802 W Knob St
Waltonville, IL 62894
(618) 279-7221
Waltonville, IL 62894
(618) 279-7221
Gr: PK-8 | 212 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #1313.
Webber High School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
901 6th St
Bluford, IL 62814
(618) 732-6121
Bluford, IL 62814
(618) 732-6121
Gr: 9-12 | 134 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1414.
Spring Garden Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
14975 E Bakerville Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8070
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8070
Gr: K-4 | 124 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #1515.
Woodlawn High School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
300 N Central St
Woodlawn, IL 62898
(618) 735-2631
Woodlawn, IL 62898
(618) 735-2631
Gr: 9-12 | 174 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Field Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
21075 N Hails Ln
Texico, IL 62889
(618) 755-4611
Texico, IL 62889
(618) 755-4611
Gr: PK-8 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Spring Garden Middle School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
511 S Elm St
Ina, IL 62846
(618) 437-5361
Ina, IL 62846
(618) 437-5361
Gr: 5-8 | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1818.
Mount Vernon High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
11101 N Wells Bypass Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 246-1750
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 246-1750
Gr: 9-12 | 1,233 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1919.
Dr Nick Osborne Primary Center
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
401 N 30th St
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8068
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8068
Gr: K-3 | 562 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2020.
Zadok Casey Middle School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 9%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1829 Broadway St
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8060
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8060
Gr: 6-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2121.
J L Buford Intermediate Educational Center
(Math: 3% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
623 S 34th St
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8064
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8064
Gr: 4-5 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: n/an/a
Clnton/mrn/wshngtn Pre-kind Prog
Alternative School
1710 Broadway St
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Gr: PK
Rank: n/an/a
301 S 17th St
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8087
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8087
Gr: PK | 243 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: n/an/a
Mt Vernon Alternative School
Alternative School
2300 Benton Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 316-7071
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 316-7071
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
Mt Vernon Area Career Center
Vocational School
11101 N Wells Bypass Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-3700
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-3700
Gr: 11-12
Rank: n/an/a
Mvths East Campus
Alternative School
716 Casey Ave
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 246-2740
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 246-2740
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Roe 13 High Needs
Alternative School
1710 Broadway St, Mt. Vernon E
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
Roe 13 Seniors Plus
Alternative School
1710 Broadway St, Mt. Vernon E
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
Roe 13 Student Success
Alternative School
1710 Broadway St, Student Succ
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 244-8040
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
Safe School Program
Alternative School
2300 Benton Rd
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 316-7071
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 316-7071
Gr: 6-12
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Jefferson County, IL?
The top-ranked public schools in Jefferson County, IL include Communication Disorders / Autism Jefferson County, Oakland Education Center and Summersville Grade School.
How many public schools are located in Jefferson County?
26 public schools are located in Jefferson County.
What percentage of students in Jefferson County go to public school?
97% of all K-12 students in Jefferson County are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County public schools minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Illinois public schools average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Jefferson County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Jefferson County include: Zadok Casey Middle School vs. Rome Comm Cons Elementary School, Bethel Grade School vs. Summersville Grade School, Mcclellan Elementary School vs. Opdyke-belle Rive Grade School
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