Summary:
The 62966 zip code contains a single middle school, Murphysboro Middle School, which serves grades 6-8 and is part of the Murphysboro CUSD 186 district. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, it is struggling academically, with proficiency rates well below state averages in both English Language Arts and Math.
Murphysboro Middle School has 432 students and has fluctuated in its statewide ranking in recent years, ranging from 908 out of 1,368 Illinois middle schools in 2024-2025 to 1,148 out of 1,363 in 2023-2024. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is high at 25.4%, which is likely a contributing factor to its academic challenges. Additionally, the school serves a high-need student population, with 99.77% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2023-2024.
Despite the school's academic struggles, it has higher-than-average per-student spending at $15,791. The focus should be on improving instructional practices, curriculum, and support for students to address the underlying issues and improve student outcomes. The Murphysboro CUSD 186 district as a whole is also underperforming, ranking in the bottom quarter of Illinois districts, suggesting that systemic challenges may be impacting the entire district and a comprehensive, district-wide approach to improvement may be necessary.
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