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Southwestern High School

Q: Is Southwestern High School a good school?

Southwestern High School ranks 362 nd of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

362^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 48% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Southwestern High School is a public high school located in Piasa, Illinois, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 376 students. The school is part of the Southwestern CUSD 9 district, which is ranked 385 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwestern High School has seen a fluctuating statewide ranking over the past 10 years, ranging from 65th out of 643 Illinois high schools in 2015-2016 (5-star rating) to 362nd out of 698 in 2024-2025 (2-star rating). The school's performance across different student subgroups has been uneven, with female students generally outperforming male students, and White students and special education students struggling compared to their peers. Academically, Southwestern High School's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are below the state averages, ranging from around 25-45%.

Compared to nearby schools like Greenfield High School, Civic Memorial High School, and Alton High School, Southwestern High School's performance is generally on par with or slightly below these schools, which have similar demographic and socioeconomic profiles. The school has also experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 10.7% to 26.3% in recent years, which may be impacting its overall academic performance.

370

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,000

Per pupil spending ?

42.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8226 Route 111
Piasa, IL 62079-2051

(618) 372-3813

District: Southwestern CUSD 9

Feeder schools for Southwestern High School:

Elementary:	Brighton North Primary School
	Shipman Elementary School
Middle:	Medora Intermediate School
	Southwestern Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.3%

Hispanic:

2.2%

African American:

1.9%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Southwestern High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 49th percentile in 2015 → 48th in 2025

Strengths

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the Illinois average (89%)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (40% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg40%

Illinois avg48%

362^nd of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

385^th of 811Southwestern CUSD 9 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	48.6	362 of 698	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.9	289 of 697	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.8	311 of 699	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.8	229 of 699	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.0	278 of 688	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.3	250 of 701	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	248 of 647	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.0	217 of 642	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	78.7	65 of 643	89.9%	★★★★★
2015	43.9	312 of 614	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	49.5	374 of 670	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.9	357 of 670	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	65.0	233 of 665	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	50.1	378 of 655	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.6	334 of 643	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.6	341 of 632	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	72.6	158 of 624	74.7%	★★★★☆
2007	51.1	349 of 612	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	58.7	270 of 596	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	47.0	362 of 590	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	40.7	420 of 592	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	50.3	338 of 586	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	33.6	315 of 491	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.0	261 of 429	39.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	56.4	281 of 685	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.6	325 of 664	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.9	371 of 656	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	65.8	202 of 658	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.8	247 of 639	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.4	224 of 665	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.3	237 of 620	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	47.8	348 of 672	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.6	172 of 639	73.1%	★★★★☆
2023	42.6	368 of 644	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.8	108 of 626	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	36.2	393 of 611	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.7	310 of 639	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.3	144 of 585	75.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.6	452 of 685	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.6	244 of 668	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.9	251 of 668	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.6	251 of 664	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.1	310 of 653	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.9	323 of 675	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.1	266 of 619	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	34.8	289 of 527	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.8	377 of 482	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	91.7	20 of 453	95.6%	★★★★★
2019	67.3	73 of 473	84.6%	★★★★☆
2018	39.8	179 of 374	52.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.4	420 of 564	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.3	345 of 554	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.4	375 of 557	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.5	305 of 560	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.1	302 of 553	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.1	279 of 552	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.6	285 of 548	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)59th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)48th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)45th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2025)36th percentile-12 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile-14 vs school

White (2025)26th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts45%-7 vs state

Science43%-6 vs state

Mathematics30%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southwestern High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	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
Southwestern High School	Public	9-12	8226 Route 111	Piasa	62079	Macoupin County	Southwestern CUSD 9	No	(n/a)	No	No	(618) 372-3813	370	31	11.7	42.2%	349 (94.3%)	7 (1.9%)	8 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	48.6	362^nd of 698 public high schools	48.1%		51.9	289^th of 697 public high schools	58.5%	73	61.5	41.8	30.8	25.5	51.3	33.7	45.1	29.7	42.9						98.2	98.0	98.0	98.0	98.2	98.0	98.2	97.5	$15,000	$1,533	$13,468
Jersey Community Alt Program JCAP	Public	5-12	28968 Delhi Rd	Jerseyville	62052	Jersey County	Jersey CUSD 100	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(618) 498-6803	0	5	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)															100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	96.3
Jersey Community High School	Public	8-12	801 N State St	Jerseyville	62052	Jersey County	Jersey CUSD 100	No	(n/a)	No	No	(618) 498-5561	961	60	16.0	39.8%	878 (91.4%)	4 (0.4%)	34 (3.5%)	10 (1.0%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (3.1%)	57.4	267^th of 698 public high schools	61.7%		55.9	252^nd of 697 public high schools	63.8%	15	53.9	55.0	27.6	29.1	38.7	42.3	63.6	46.6	51.7	53.0	58.7	58.3	28.2	28.0	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.2	99.0	97.9	$13,196	$661	$12,535
Bunker Hill High School	Public	9-12	314 S Meissner St	Bunker Hill	62014	Macoupin County	Bunker Hill CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 585-3232	166	17	10.0	52.4%	148 (89.2%)	3 (1.8%)	5 (3.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.8%)	38.5	458^th of 698 public high schools	34.4%		64.3	197^th of 697 public high schools	71.7%	261	46.9	45.9	15.6	18.9	25.0	40.5	46.7	37.8	40.0						98.5	99.0	99.0	99.0	99.5	99.0	100.0	96.6	$16,746	$702	$16,044
Alton High School	Public	9-12	4200 Humbert Rd	Alton	62002	Madison County	Alton CUSD 11	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 474-2700	1,823	99	18.4	43.1%	986 (54.1%)	518 (28.4%)	106 (5.8%)	8 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	202 (11.1%)	31.8	499^th of 698 public high schools	28.5%		51.3	295^th of 697 public high schools	57.7%	204	46.1	39.3	18.4	18.0	33.9	26.3	36.1	29.5	39.6						99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.9	99.7	99.8	96.9	$16,906	$807	$16,099
Civic Memorial High School	Public	9-12	200 School St	Bethalto	62010	Madison County	Bethalto CUSD 8	No	(n/a)	No	No	(618) 377-7220	760	51	14.8	42.6%	660 (86.8%)	15 (2.0%)	39 (5.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.7%)	59.7	251^st of 698 public high schools	64.0%		65.6	190^th of 697 public high schools	72.7%	61	55.6	61.8	34.9	33.9	40.8	49.5	50.5	39.5	48.0						100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	98.7	$12,741	$362	$12,380
Journeys South	Public	6-12	101 School St	Bethalto	62010	Madison County	Region III Special Educational Coop	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(618) 210-6485	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Journeys School	Public	7-12	400 Alby Street	Alton	62002	Madison County	Region III Special Educational Coop	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(618) 208-7490	0	3	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Greenfield High School	Public	9-12	502 East St	Greenfield	62044	Greene County	Greenfield CUSD 10	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 368-2219	108	15	7.2	35.2%	108 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40.4	436^th of 698 public high schools	37.5%		26.9	499^th of 697 public high schools	28.4%	63	38.5	60.9	15.4	26.1	34.6	39.1	26.9	30.8	50.0						99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	93.2	$16,598	$425	$16,173
ROE Alternative Edu. Center-Macoupin	Public	10-12	227 E 1St South St	Carlinville	62626	Macoupin County	Calhoun/Greene/Jersy/Macoupin ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 854-4016	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern High School

What is the racial makeup of Southwestern High School?

Students at Southwestern High School are 94% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% African American, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Southwestern High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 370 students attended Southwestern High School.

Is Southwestern High School a good school?

Southwestern High School ranks 362^nd of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Southwestern High School?

Southwestern High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Brighton North Primary School
Elementary : Shipman Elementary School
Middle : Medora Intermediate School
Middle : Southwestern Middle School

What district is Southwestern High School in?

Southwestern CUSD 9

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2025

2024–25 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 30, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataOct 30, 2024

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.