| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowden-Herrick Community Unit School District 3A | Cowden | 8/10 Good · 79th pct | 322 | 2 | K–12 | 2 |
| Shelbyville Community Unit School District 4 | Lakewood | 8/10 Good · 72nd pct | 1,251 | 4 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Pana Community Unit School District 8 | Oconee | 7/10 Good · 69th pct | 1,172 | 4 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Stewardson-Strasburg Community Unit District 5A | Mode | 7/10 Good · 68th pct | 399 | 2 | PK–12 | 3 |
| Windsor Community Unit School District 1 | Windsor | 4/10 Below Average · 33rd pct | 339 | 2 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Okaw Valley Community Unit School District 302 | Findlay | 4/10 Below Average · 32nd pct | 463 | 3 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Central A & M Community Unit School District 21 | Moweaqua | 4/10 Below Average · 30th pct | 737 | 5 | PK–12 | 1 |
How Shelby County compares
Together they enroll 4,683 students across 22 schools. The largest is Shelbyville Community Unit School District 4 with 1,251 students. Districts here average 6.0/10, above the Illinois average of 5.6/10. Ratings range from 4/10 to 8/10.
School Districts in Shelby County, Illinois
Shelby County has 7 public school districts covering 12 zip codes. The top-rated district in Shelby County is Cowden-Herrick Community Unit School District 3A (8/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (IAR 2023–24), ranked against all districts in Illinois. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Shelby County, IL?
7 school districts serve zip codes in Shelby County, IL. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Shelby County, IL?
Of the districts serving Shelby County, Cowden-Herrick Community Unit School District 3A has the highest rating on this site at 8/10. That places it in the 79th percentile among Illinois school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on Illinois reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in Illinois and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within Illinois only, never across state lines.