Public schools in Alton, IL
8 open public schools with an address in Alton, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,283
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.2:1
Illinois median 13:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Alton public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Alton, IL: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,283 students, an average of 535 per school. The largest campus is Alton High School (1,823 students), and the largest elementary school is East Elementary School (415).
Alton CUSD 11 operates the most schools here (7), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.2:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 51% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Alton
Elementary schools in Alton
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Elementary School Alton CUSD 11 | 03–05 | 415 | 13:1 | |
| Eunice Smith Elem School Alton CUSD 11 | KG–02 | 188 | 13.6:1 | |
| Lovejoy Elem School Alton CUSD 11 | KG–02 | 230 | 12.8:1 | |
| West Elementary School Alton CUSD 11 | 02–05 | 407 | 13.3:1 |
Middle schools in Alton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton Middle School Alton CUSD 11 | 06–08 | 1,220 | 14.1:1 |
High schools in Alton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton High School Alton CUSD 11 | 09–12 | 1,823 | 18.5:1 | |
| Journeys School Region III Spec Ed Coop · Special Education School | 07–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Alton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain Alton CUSD 11 · Alternative School | KG–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White50.9%
- Hispanic5.3%
- Black29.4%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial13.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Alton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,283 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Alton
How many public schools are in Alton, IL?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Alton: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 4,283 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Alton?
Schools with an address in Alton belong to 2 education agencies, led by Alton CUSD 11 (7 schools), Region III Spec Ed Coop (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Alton?
Alton High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Alton, with 1,823 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Alton?
No school with an address in Alton is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Illinois.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Alton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Alton public schools is 13.2:1, similar to the Illinois school median of 13:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Alton guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Illinois cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Illinois cities