📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (IAR 2023–24), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 8 Rated Districts in Jackson County, IL
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Giant City Community Consolidated School District 130 | Carbondale | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #2 | Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140 | Carbondale | 7/10 Good | 65th |
| #3 | Carbondale Community High School District 165 | Carbondale | 7/10 Good | 64th |
| #4 | Elverado Community Unit School District 196 | Elkville | 5/10 Average | 43rd |
| #5 | Trico Community Unit School District 176 | Campbell Hill | 4/10 Below Average | 38th |
| #6 | De Soto Consolidated School District 86 | De Soto | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #7 | Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 | Murphysboro | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #8 | Carbondale Elementary School District 95 | Carbondale | 1/10 Poor | 8th |
Best School Districts in Jackson County, Illinois (2026)
This page lists the 8 public school districts headquartered in Jackson County, Illinois that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using IAR 2023–24 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Illinois, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Jackson County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Jackson County, Illinois? ▼
Among the 8 rated districts in Jackson County, Illinois, the highest-rated is Giant City Community Consolidated School District 130 (Carbondale), rated 9/10 (Excellent) and in the 86th percentile of Illinois districts on IAR 2023–24 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (IAR 2023–24), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Illinois and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.