Public schools in Charleston, IL
5 open public schools with an address in Charleston, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,670
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.1:1
Illinois median 13:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Charleston public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Charleston, IL: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,670 students, an average of 534 per school. The largest campus is Charleston High School (795 students), and the largest elementary school is Carl Sandburg Elem School (555).
Every listed school belongs to Charleston CUSD 1. 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 14.1:1, higher than 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.
About 50% 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 Charleston
Elementary schools in Charleston
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Sandburg Elem School Charleston CUSD 1 | 01–03 | 555 | 14.1:1 | |
| Mark Twain Elem School Charleston CUSD 1 | PK–KG | 221 | 13.4:1 |
Middle schools in Charleston
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Middle School Charleston CUSD 1 | 07–08 | 401 | 13.4:1 | |
| Jefferson Elem School Charleston CUSD 1 | 04–06 | 698 | 16:1 |
High schools in Charleston
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston High School Charleston CUSD 1 | 09–12 | 795 | 16.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White75.6%
- Hispanic6.8%
- Black8.7%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial7.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Charleston schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,670 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Charleston
How many public schools are in Charleston, IL?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Charleston: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 2,670 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Charleston?
All listed public schools with an address in Charleston belong to Charleston CUSD 1. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Charleston?
Charleston High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Charleston, with 795 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Charleston?
No school with an address in Charleston 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 Charleston schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Charleston public schools is 14.1:1, higher than 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 Charleston 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