Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 62966

The 62966 zip code area is home to 3 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. While the schools exhibit significant differences in student enrollment, test scores, and resource allocation, they all serve a predominantly low-income student population with high rates of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility.

Carruthers Elementary School stands out as the largest and highest-performing school in the area, with 34.4% of students proficient or better in ELA and 28.9% proficient or better in Math. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 13.1. In contrast, McElvain School has the lowest enrollment and spending per student, at $8,571, significantly lower than the other two schools. McElvain School also has the highest percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients at 70%.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern across the schools, with Carruthers Elementary School and Gen John A Logan Attendance Center both reporting a 25.4% chronic absenteeism rate. This suggests that attendance and engagement may be significant challenges for these schools, which could impact student learning and outcomes. Overall, the data highlights the diverse landscape of elementary schools within the Murphysboro CUSD 186 district and the need to address equity and resource allocation to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.