Charleston Cusd 1 School District
School District · Charleston, Illinois
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
6
3 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
2,652
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
6
3 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
2,652
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
How this district compares
Illinois rank
#535 of 637
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.1
below Illinois avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,841
$2,849 vs Illinois median
District size
2,652 students
Much larger than Illinois median
The short answer
Charleston Cusd 1 ranks #535 of 637 Illinois districts by overall school rating. Charleston Cusd 1's schools with real test data average 5.1/10 across 5 schools. Its top-rated schools are Charleston Middle School (6.6/10), Jefferson Elem School (5.7/10), and Carl Sandburg Elem School (5.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Charleston Cusd 1 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Charleston Cusd 1
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (5 of 6). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston Middle School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Jefferson Elem School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Carl Sandburg Elem School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Ashmore Elem School | 3.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Charleston High School | 3.4 / 10 |
See all 6 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Charleston Cusd 1
Charleston Cusd 1 is a Charleston, Illinois school district serving 6 schools.The district educates 2,652 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1. District-level spending was $13,841 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.3/10, Charleston Cusd 1 demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Charleston Middle School, which has a composite score of 6.6/10.
In standardized testing, Charleston Cusd 1 students show an average math proficiency of 33.0% and ELA proficiency of 39.7%.
The district includes 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Charleston Cusd 1, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Charleston Cusd 1 with test data.
Schools in Charleston Cusd 1
6 schoolsElementary Schools3
Middle Schools2
High Schools1
District Details
- State
- Illinois
- City
- Charleston
- Total Enrollment
- 2,652
- Teachers (FTE)
- 175
- District spending per student
- $13,841NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 13.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Charleston Cusd 1?
Charleston Cusd 1 has 6 schools in total — 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Charleston Cusd 1?
The average composite rating for Charleston Cusd 1 is 5.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Charleston Cusd 1?
Charleston Cusd 1's district-level spending was $13,841 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Charleston Cusd 1?
The average student-teacher ratio in Charleston Cusd 1 is 15.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Charleston Cusd 1?
Charleston Middle School is the highest-rated school in Charleston Cusd 1 with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What are the test scores in Charleston Cusd 1?
Across schools in Charleston Cusd 1 with test data, the average math proficiency is 33.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 39.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Charleston Cusd 1 compare to other districts in Illinois?
Charleston Cusd 1 has an average school rating of 5.3/10 across 6 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Illinois by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 33.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 39.7%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in IL
Compare Charleston Cusd 1 with neighboring districts in the state.
- Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 (643)
- Sd U-46 (56)
- Rockford Sd 205 (45)
- Springfield Sd 186 (35)
- Indian Prairie Cusd 204 (34)
- Peoria Sd 150 (32)
- Plainfield Sd 202 (31)
- Cusd 300 (29)
- Schaumburg Ccsd 54 (28)
- Mclean County USD 5 (26)
- Cusd 308 (22)
- Joliet Psd 86 (22)
- Naperville Cusd 203 (22)
- Waukegan Cusd 60 (22)
- Aurora East USD 131 (20)
- Champaign Cusd 4 (20)
- Cusd 200 (20)
- Palatine Ccsd 15 (20)
- Valley View Cusd 365u (20)
- St Charles Cusd 303 (18)
- Aurora West USD 129 (17)
- Evanston Ccsd 65 (17)
- Decatur Sd 61 (16)
- Cicero Sd 99 (15)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Illinois Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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