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Charleston High School

Q: Is Charleston High School a good school?

Charleston High School ranks 420 th of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

420^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 40% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Charleston High School is a public high school serving 780 students in grades 9-12 in Charleston, Illinois, which is part of the Charleston CUSD 1 district.

The school has seen fluctuations in its academic performance, ranking as high as 153rd out of 699 Illinois high schools in 2021-2022 but dropping to 420th out of 698 in 2024-2025. Standardized test scores are generally below state averages, with only 37.2% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in ACT/English Language Arts compared to the state average of 51.7%. Charleston High School also faces challenges with a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 26.3% to 43.6%, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools like Casey-Westfield Junior/Senior High School, Cumberland High School, and Oakland High School, Charleston High School generally underperforms in academic measures, graduation rates, and test scores. However, the school has a relatively high per-student spending of $17,686 and a student-teacher ratio of 16.5, which may impact the quality of instruction and individual attention students receive.

795

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,654

Per pupil spending ?

44.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1615 Lincoln Ave
Charleston, IL 61920-3010

(217) 639-5000

District: Charleston CUSD 1

Feeder schools for Charleston High School:

Elementary:	Ashmore Elementary School
	Carl Sandburg Elementary School
	Mark Twain Elementary School
Middle:	Charleston Middle School
	Jefferson Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.2%

Two or more races:

7.4%

African American:

7.3%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Charleston High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 77th percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (37% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Graduation rate below the Illinois average (81% vs 89%)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg37%

Illinois avg48%

420^th of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 38 pts since 2015

From top 23% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

641^st of 811Charleston CUSD 1 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	41.8	420 of 698	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.2	238 of 697	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.1	411 of 699	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.9	153 of 699	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	47.8	314 of 688	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.2	210 of 701	70.0%	★★★★☆
2018	67.5	185 of 647	71.4%	★★★★☆
2017	64.0	198 of 642	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.5	147 of 643	77.1%	★★★★☆
2015	70.8	139 of 614	77.4%	★★★★☆
2014	68.0	210 of 670	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	69.7	209 of 670	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	76.0	149 of 665	77.6%	★★★★☆
2011	73.8	176 of 655	73.1%	★★★★☆
2010	66.6	226 of 643	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	67.4	219 of 632	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	83.5	80 of 624	87.2%	★★★★☆
2007	53.4	325 of 612	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	58.9	266 of 596	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	64.2	219 of 590	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	54.0	307 of 592	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2003	57.5	278 of 586	52.6%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	170 of 323	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.9	68 of 299	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	34.4	175 of 301	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	31.6	335 of 491	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	77.7	61 of 429	85.8%	★★★★☆
2023	26.5	343 of 428	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	40.6	418 of 685	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.1	265 of 664	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.0	413 of 656	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	77.9	129 of 658	80.4%	★★★★☆
2021	42.9	343 of 639	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.4	229 of 665	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.9	214 of 620	65.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	291 of 366	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.1	109 of 336	67.6%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2021	62.9	8 of 24	66.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.6	515 of 672	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	55.1	233 of 639	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.3	351 of 644	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.2	237 of 626	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.9	357 of 611	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.1	247 of 639	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.9	214 of 585	63.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.1	401 of 685	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.8	214 of 668	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.1	370 of 668	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.2	211 of 664	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.3	296 of 653	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.5	201 of 675	70.2%	★★★★☆
2018	68.9	159 of 619	74.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	14.9	182 of 211	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	123 of 182	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.3	426 of 527	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.6	184 of 482	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	21.1	375 of 476	21.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	286 of 493	42.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.3	270 of 453	40.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.1	274 of 473	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.7	220 of 374	41.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.2	453 of 564	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.1	261 of 554	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	29.1	408 of 557	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.5	200 of 560	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.1	364 of 553	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.0	250 of 552	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.3	214 of 548	60.9%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Homeless (2021)67th percentile+12 vs school

African American (2025)47th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)41st percentile~ school

Female (2025)39th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)32nd percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)23rd percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2025)20th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)20th percentile-20 vs school

Special Education (2025)19th percentile-21 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)14th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts37%-14 vs state

Science37%-12 vs state

Mathematics26%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Charleston High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2025)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2025)		PreACT Secure Science (2025)		ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	ISA Science (2025)	IAR English Language Arts (2025)			IAR Mathematics (2025)			% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Charleston High School	Public	9-12	1615 Lincoln Ave	Charleston	61920	Coles County	Charleston CUSD 1	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 639-5000	795	48	16.5	44.9%	622 (78.2%)	58 (7.3%)	47 (5.9%)	8 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (7.4%)	41.8	420^th of 698 public high schools	39.8%		58.2	238^th of 697 public high schools	65.9%	182	60.8	50.0	19.7	19.1	42.9	40.4	37.2	25.6	36.6								97.0	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.4	98.3	94.7	$13,654	$52	$13,602
Shelbyville TAOEP	Public	6-12	730 7Th St	Charleston	61920	Coles County	Clk/Cls/Cmbn/Dglas/Edgr/Mltr/Shlb	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 348-0151	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Lerna TAOEP	Public	6-12	10 3Rd St	Charleston	61920	Coles County	Clk/Cls/Cmbn/Dglas/Edgr/Mltr/Shlb	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 235-4867	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Lerna Bridges	Public	6-12	10 Third St	Lerna	62440	Coles County	Clk/Cls/Cmbn/Dglas/Edgr/Mltr/Shlb	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 235-4867	0	5	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
OnTRACC	Public, Virtual	12	121 S 17Th St	Mattoon	61938	Coles County	Eastern IL Area of Special Educ	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(217) 348-7700	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Lift	Public	11-12	121 S 17Th St	Mattoon	61938	Coles County	Mattoon CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 238-8900	0	9	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Mattoon High School	Public	9-12	2521 Walnut Ave	Mattoon	61938	Coles County	Mattoon CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 238-7800	888	52	16.9	47.5%	729 (82.1%)	39 (4.4%)	48 (5.4%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (7.5%)	44.7	397^th of 698 public high schools	43.1%		38.5	401^st of 697 public high schools	42.5%	4	48.2	46.5	25.1	27.0	44.0	39.6	39.9	36.1	39.9								99.4	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.5	99.3	99.5	94.8	$14,972	$1,118	$13,854
Kansas High School	Public	7-12	310 S Front	Kansas	61933	Edgar County	Kansas CUSD 3	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 948-5175	73	13	5.5	63.0%	66 (90.4%)	5 (6.8%)	1 (1.4%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53.4	315^th of 698 public high schools	54.9%		14.9	599^th of 697 public high schools	14.1%	284	81.8	43.5	45.5	4.3	63.6	30.4	54.5	36.4	27.3	41.7	57.1	41.7	50.0	7.1	25.0	15.4	92.5	93.8	93.8	93.8	90.0	93.8	83.8	78.8	$21,978	$748	$21,230
Oakland High School	Public	9-12	310 Teeter St	Oakland	61943	Coles County	Oakland CUSD 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 346-2118	61	11	5.8	19.7%	58 (95.1%)	1 (1.6%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	47.5	370^th of 698 public high schools	47.0%		76.4	132^nd of 697 public high schools	81.1%	238	42.9	23.1	19.0	15.4	38.1	23.1	84.6	69.2	84.6								100.0	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	96.8	98.4	98.4	$19,557	$890	$18,667
Casey-Westfield Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	306 E Edgar Ave	Casey	62420	Clark County	Casey-Westfield CUSD 4C	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 932-2175	361	27	13.3	46.3%	341 (94.5%)	7 (1.9%)	8 (2.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	65.2	208^th of 698 public high schools	70.2%		29.4	476^th of 697 public high schools	31.7%	268	68.6	61.4	23.5	33.3	41.2	47.4	59.3	48.3	61.0	41.2	46.7	44.1	45.1	40.0	23.5	30.1									$15,687	$476	$15,211

Frequently Asked Questions about Charleston High School

How many students attend Charleston High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 795 students attended Charleston High School.

Is Charleston High School a good school?

Charleston High School ranks 420^th of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Charleston High School?

Students at Charleston High School are 78% White, 7% Two or more races, 7% African American, 6% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is Charleston High School in?

Charleston CUSD 1

What schools feed into Charleston High School?

Charleston High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ashmore Elementary School
Elementary : Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Elementary : Mark Twain Elementary School
Middle : Charleston Middle School
Middle : Jefferson Elementary School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.