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Pope County High School

Public Grades 9-12

538^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 23% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Pope County High School is a public high school located in Golconda, Illinois, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 173 students. The school is part of the Pope County CUD 1 district, which is ranked 614 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pope County High School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Illinois high schools, with a ranking between 388 and 570 out of 600-700 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state averages, with only 34.4% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 51.7%, and only 18.8% proficient or better in ACT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 39.3%. The school's four-year graduation rate has ranged from 83.7% to 89.0%, which is slightly below the state average, and its dropout rate has been between 2.4% and 6.6%, which is higher than the state average.

The nearby Massac County High School and Hardin County High School, while still below the state average in many metrics, generally outperform Pope County High School in academic performance, graduation rates, and socioeconomic factors. Massac County High School, in particular, has a higher ranking (172-303 out of 600-700 schools) and better test scores than Pope County High School. The high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds at Pope County High School, ranging from 58.67% to 64.74% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, likely contributes to the school's overall academic performance and other metrics, and addressing the needs of this student population could be a key focus area for the school and district.

142

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,953

Per pupil spending ?

58.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

125 State Highway 146 W
Golconda, IL 62938-4203

(618) 683-3071

District: Pope County CUD 1

Feeder schools for Pope County High School:

Elementary:

Pope County Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.1%

Asian:

1.4%

American Indian:

1.4%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Pope County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 28th percentile in 2015 → 23rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (27% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Illinois average (84% vs 89%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school27%

District avg27%

Illinois avg48%

538^th of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From bottom 28% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

614^th of 811Pope County CUD 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	24.4	538 of 698	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.7	518 of 697	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.8	446 of 699	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.5	512 of 699	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	570 of 688	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.5	388 of 701	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	19.7	536 of 647	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	34.8	438 of 642	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.6	457 of 643	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	29.4	441 of 614	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	40.2	441 of 670	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.3	414 of 670	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	44.0	426 of 665	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	23.0	527 of 655	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.4	539 of 643	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	41.0	425 of 632	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	53.3	344 of 624	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	36.2	441 of 612	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	78.5	108 of 596	81.9%	★★★★☆
2005	61.1	252 of 590	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	18.3	506 of 592	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.7	526 of 685	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.3	467 of 664	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.3	347 of 656	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.3	457 of 658	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	10.4	593 of 639	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	49.3	336 of 665	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.8	418 of 620	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	34.1	478 of 672	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.6	408 of 639	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.8	378 of 644	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.5	465 of 626	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.8	514 of 611	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	403 of 639	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.0	459 of 585	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.3	520 of 685	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	537 of 668	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.5	484 of 668	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.7	541 of 664	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.0	463 of 653	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.6	435 of 675	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	9.1	575 of 619	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.7	546 of 564	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.7	522 of 554	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	475 of 557	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	526 of 560	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.7	532 of 553	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.9	405 of 552	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.7	529 of 548	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)24th percentile~ school

Female (2025)23rd percentile~ school

White (2025)3rd percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts34%-17 vs state

Science34%-14 vs state

Mathematics19%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pope County 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)	% 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	% 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
Pope County High School	Public	9-12	125 State Highway 146 W	Golconda	62938	Pope County	Pope County CUD 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 683-3071	142	13	11.3	58.5%	135 (95.1%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	2 (1.4%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	24.4	538^th of 698 public high schools	22.9%		22.7	518^th of 697 public high schools	25.7%	20	38.5	40.6	3.8	9.4	38.5	25.0	34.4	18.8	34.4	71.8	71.8	71.8	71.8	71.8	71.8	71.3	69.5	$15,953	$482	$15,471
Hardin County High School	Public	9-12	4 School Rd	Elizabethtown	62931	Hardin County	Hardin County CUSD 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 287-2141	175	12	14.0	52.6%	165 (94.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.6%)	24.6	537^th of 698 public high schools	23.1%		23.5	512^th of 697 public high schools	26.5%	25	36.6	44.1	2.4	20.6	24.4	23.5	33.3	15.6	40.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	$15,566	$3,049	$12,517
Massac County High School	Public	9-12	2841 Old Marion Rd	Metropolis	62960	Massac County	Massac UD 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 524-3440	512	46	11.2	60.5%	400 (78.1%)	41 (8.0%)	19 (3.7%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (9.4%)	54.8	303^rd of 698 public high schools	56.6%		54.4	267^th of 697 public high schools	61.7%	36	65.8	58.4	33.3	25.7	49.1	34.5	48.1	36.8	39.1									$14,815	$980	$13,834

Frequently Asked Questions about Pope County High School

What is the racial makeup of Pope County High School?

Students at Pope County High School are 95% White, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Pope County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 142 students attended Pope County High School.

Is Pope County High School a good school?

Pope County High School ranks in the bottom 22.9% of Illinois high schools.

What schools feed into Pope County High School?

Pope County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Pope County Elementary School

What district is Pope County High School in?

Pope County CUD 1

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ILIllinois District Rankings

Schools in Golconda, IL

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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.