For the 2026 school year, there are 17 public schools serving 2,365 students in Union County, IL (there are 1 private school, serving 26 private students). 99% of all K-12 students in Union County, IL are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
The top-ranked public schools in Union County, IL are Tri-county South - Choate, Jonesboro Elementary School and Dongola High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Union County, IL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 17% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 31% (versus the 30% statewide average). Schools in Union County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Illinois public schools.
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Union County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Tri-county South - Choate
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1000 N Main Dewey Bldg
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-4541
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-4541
Rank: #22.
Jonesboro Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
309 Cook Ave
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-5148
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-5148
Gr: PK-8 | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #33.
Dongola High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1000 High St
Dongola, IL 62926
(618) 827-3524
Dongola, IL 62926
(618) 827-3524
Gr: 9-12 | 60 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #44.
Cobden Jr High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
413 N Appleknocker St
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-4031
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-4031
Gr: 6-8 | 89 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #55.
Cobden Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
413 N Appleknocker St
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-2311
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-2311
Gr: PK-5 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #66.
Anna Junior High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 S Green St
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-6415
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-6415
Gr: 5-8 | 247 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #77.
Davie Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 S Green St
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8022
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8022
Gr: 3-4 | 125 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #88.
Cobden High School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
413 N Appleknocker St
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-4031
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-4031
Gr: 9-12 | 139 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #99.
Dongola Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1000 High St
Dongola, IL 62926
(618) 827-3524
Dongola, IL 62926
(618) 827-3524
Gr: PK-5 | 128 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1010.
Shawnee High School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3365 State Hwy 3 N
Wolf Lake, IL 62998
(618) 833-5307
Wolf Lake, IL 62998
(618) 833-5307
Gr: 9-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1111.
Anna-jonesboro High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
608 S Main St
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8502
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8502
Gr: 9-12 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1212.
Shawnee Jr High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3365 State Hwy 3 N
Wolf Lake, IL 62998
(618) 833-5307
Wolf Lake, IL 62998
(618) 833-5307
Gr: 6-8 | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1313.
Dongola Jr High School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1000 High St
Dongola, IL 62926
(618) 827-3524
Dongola, IL 62926
(618) 827-3524
Gr: 6-8 | 44 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #1414.
Shawnee Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3365 N State Route 3
Wolf Lake, IL 62998
(618) 833-4975
Wolf Lake, IL 62998
(618) 833-4975
Gr: PK-5 | 139 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: n/an/a
108 Warren St
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-6851
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-6851
Gr: PK-2 | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-anna Jonesboro High School
Special Education School
608 S Main St
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8421
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8421
Rank: n/an/a
Tcse-jonesboro Grade School
Special Education School
309 Cook Ave
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-5148
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-5148
Union County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Five County Vocational Sys-anna Campus High School (Closed 2013)
Vocational School
608 South Main St
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8421
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-8421
Gr: 9-12
Five County Vocational Sys-cobden Campus High School (Closed 2013)
Vocational School
413 North Appleknocker St
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-4031
Cobden, IL 62920
(618) 893-4031
Gr: 9-12
Safe School Roe 02 (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
1000 N Mail St Oak Hall
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 342-6778
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 342-6778
Gr: 6-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Union County, IL?
The top-ranked public schools in Union County, IL include Tri-county South - Choate, Jonesboro Elementary School and Dongola High School.
How many public schools are located in Union County?
17 public schools are located in Union County.
What percentage of students in Union County go to public school?
99% of all K-12 students in Union County are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Union County?
Union County public schools minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public schools average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Union County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Union County include: Cobden Elementary School vs. Shawnee Elementary School, Shawnee Elementary School vs. Cobden Elementary School, Cobden Elementary School vs. Jonesboro Elementary School
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