Summary:
The 62938 zip code area is home to two schools - Pope County Elementary School and Pope County High School, both part of the Pope County CUD 1 district. These schools serve a predominantly low-income student population, with over 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academically, both schools struggle, with proficiency rates on state assessments well below state averages, particularly in mathematics. Pope County Elementary School ranks between 955-1157 out of over 2,000 Illinois elementary schools, while Pope County High School ranks between 446-518 out of 697 Illinois high schools. Chronic absenteeism rates at both schools are also extremely high, around 26% compared to the state average.
Despite the challenges, Pope County High School does maintain a relatively high graduation rate of 89.6% and a low dropout rate of 1.2%. However, the overall picture suggests systemic issues within the district that are negatively impacting educational outcomes for students in this community. Addressing the low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and resource constraints will likely require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach involving the district, community stakeholders, and targeted interventions.
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