Best Schools in Mount Vernon, Illinois

Mount Vernon, Illinois runs 9 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.3 out of 10 — a solid mid-range foundation for families moving into the area. The city's schools skew elementary, and that is where the strongest performers concentrate. Only 2 of the 9 schools, or 22 percent, crack the 7-point threshold, so the gap between the top tier and the city average is meaningful and worth factoring into any neighborhood decision.

Spring Garden Elementary School leads the city at 8.4 out of 10, a standout score that puts it well above the local average and signals consistently strong academic performance at the elementary level. Summersville Grade School follows at 7.5, and together these two schools anchor the upper tier. Bethel Grade School (6.9) and J.L. Buford Intermediate Education Center (6.7) sit just below that threshold, both outperforming the city average and offering solid options for families who cannot access the top two. Dr. Andy Hall Early Education Center rounds out the ranked list at 6.5, giving parents an entry point for early childhood programming within the public system.

The performance spread across Mount Vernon's elementary schools is relatively tight — most rated schools cluster within two points of each other — but the difference between Spring Garden at 8.4 and the city average at 6.3 is real. Families who can position themselves in Spring Garden's attendance zone gain measurable access to the city's strongest academic environment. For parents who cannot, Summersville and Bethel offer respectable alternatives without requiring a major geographic stretch.

Parents researching Mount Vernon should confirm current attendance boundaries directly with Jefferson County schools before committing to a neighborhood, since boundary lines can shift. The data here covers ranked public schools only; private and charter options, if relevant to your family, require separate research. Overall, Mount Vernon offers a public school landscape that is functional and accessible at the middle, with a clear top performer at Spring Garden that raises the ceiling for families who prioritize elementary-level academics.