South Central Reporter

Centralia School District 135 had the highest enrollment among Marion County districts, welcoming 1,051 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 52.9% of them were boys, and 47.1% were girls.

Data also showed that the majority of students identified themselves as white, making up 58% of the Centralia School District 135's total enrollment.

Among the 13 districts in Marion County, Salem School District 111 ranked second in enrollment numbers with 959 students, while Centralia High School District 200 welcomed 868 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Centralia School District 135 roughly covers schools within Marion County with its main office in Centralia.

In the previous school year, Centralia School District 135 also had the highest number of students among Marion County districts.

Illinois has approved a new budget for 2025 that increases funds for K-12 education to $8.6 billion, $350 million above 2024.

Lawmakers also approved a new bill that creates a statewide child tax credit, which allows families to receive $300 per child under 17 years. This comes after a similar aid was granted from the federal government, as part of the American Rescue Plan.

District	City (main office)	Total Enrollment
Centralia School District 135	Centralia	1,051
Salem School District 111	Salem	959
Centralia High School District 200	Centralia	868
Salem Community High School District 600	Salem	695
South Central Community Unit School District 401	Kinmundy	627
Sandoval Community Unit School District 501	Sandoval	422
Central City School District 133	Centralia	295
Iuka Community Consolidated School District 7	Iuka	245
Selmaville Community Consolidated School District 10	Salem	236
Odin Public School District 722	Odin	232
Patoka Community Unit School District 100	Patoka	222
Raccoon Consolidated School District 1	Centralia	209
Kell Consolidated School District 2	Kell	71