C+

Mercer County School District 404

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 15 towns

Serves Mercer Township, Aledo, New Boston Township, New Boston, Millersburg Township, Keithsburg, Keithsburg Township, Eliza Township, Abington Township, Joy, Ohio Grove Township, Seaton, Duncan Township, Perryton Township and Bald Bluff Township, and parts of Preemption Township, Greene Township, Drury Township and Suez Township.

Students

1,274

Schools

Spent per student

$16,966

IL $21,567

Students per teacher

12:1

Free or reduced lunch

50%

Debt

$17.7M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Mercer County School District 404

School Grade C+: better than 36% of Illinois districts
Math proficiency 12 pts below the state
Reading / language arts 7 pts below the state
Spends 21% less per student than the IL average
12 students per teacher
Enrollment up 17.4% since 2020
Debt of $17.7M, about $13,891 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Appanoose Township.

PK–8Nauvoo Elem SchoolNauvoo-Colusa Community Unit School District 325

9–12Illini West High SchoolIllini West High School District 307

Test scores vs. IL

2020–21

Math proficiency14%

State average 25.8%

Reading / language arts24%

State average 30.7%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 87.3%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$16,966 per student · 21% below IL

Spending

Classroom instruction 59%Support & administration 37%Other 4%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 44%State 43%Federal 12%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

1,085’20

1,097’21

1,294’22

1,265’23

1,274’24

Up 17.4% since 2020.

Students

White 91%Two or more races 4%Black 2%Hispanic 2%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

5 public schools.

Apollo Elem School

Elementary · Grades K–5 · Aledo

C+

362 students12:1

New Boston Elem School

Elementary · Grades K–5 · New Boston

C−

165 students8:1

Mercer County Jr High School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Aledo

B−

270 students11:1

Mercer County High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Aledo

C+

411 students13:1

Mercer County ELC

Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Joy

66 students22:1

Towns served

Mercer Township 3,917Aledo 3,668New Boston Township 1,113New Boston 648Millersburg Township 588Keithsburg 490Keithsburg Township 490Eliza Township 444Abington Township 433Joy 387Ohio Grove Township 365Seaton 228Duncan Township 215Perryton Township 179Bald Bluff Township 71

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

United Community School District 304North Henderson Township, Spring Grove Township, Sumner Township

$18,592per student

Rockridge Community Unit School District 300Bowling Township, Buffalo Prairie Township, Edgington Township

$14,251per student

Sherrard Community Unit School District 200Bowling Township, Richland Grove Township, Rivoli Township

$15,701per student

West Central Community Unit School District 235Oquawka Township, Rozetta Township

$15,975per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.