For the 2025 school year, there are 12 public elementary schools serving 3,360 students in Coles County, IL.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Coles County, IL are Carl Sandburg Elementary School, Arland D Williams Jr Elementary School and Lake Crest Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Coles County, IL public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 13% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 23% (versus the 30% statewide average). Elementary schools in Coles County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Illinois public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the Illinois public elementary school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Coles County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1924 Reynolds Dr
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-4000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-4000
Grades: K-3
| 537 students
Rank: #22.
Arland D Williams Jr Elementary School
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1709 S 9th St
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-2800
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-2800
Grades: K-5
| 716 students
Rank: #33.
Lake Crest Elementary School
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
310 Teeter St
Oakland, IL 61943
(217) 346-2166
Oakland, IL 61943
(217) 346-2166
Grades: PK-8
| 182 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Lerna Bridges
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
10 Third St
Lerna, IL 62440
(217) 235-4867
Lerna, IL 62440
(217) 235-4867
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Life Academy
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2405 Champaign Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 348-7704
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 348-7704
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Rank: #66.
Mattoon Middle School
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1200 S 9th St
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-5800
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-5800
Grades: 6-8
| 621 students
Rank: #77.
Ashmore Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
313 S Ohio St
Ashmore, IL 61912
(217) 349-3000
Ashmore, IL 61912
(217) 349-3000
Grades: K-4
| 72 students
Rank: #88.
Riddle Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4201 Western Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-3800
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-3800
Grades: K-5
| 569 students
Rank: #99.
Jefferson Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
801 Jefferson Ave
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-7000
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 639-7000
Grades: 4-6
| 663 students
Rank: #1010.
Pathways Roe 11
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
730 7th St, Jerald Calandrilla
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-0151
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-0151
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Lerna Taoep
Alternative School
10 3rd St
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 235-4867
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 235-4867
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Shelbyville Taoep
Alternative School
730 7th St
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-0151
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-0151
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Coles County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Armstrong Center Tmh School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
1400 Piatt Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 235-0959
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 235-0959
Grades: PK-12
| 130 students
205 S 32nd St
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-7627
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-7627
Grades: K-3
| 311 students
Charleston Bridges (Closed 2012)
Alternative School
730 7th St
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-0151
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-0151
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Eastern Il Efedual Credit High School (Closed 2013)
Vocational School
1617 Lakeland Blvd
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 258-6238
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 258-6238
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Humboldt Bridges (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
308 Adams St, Humboldt Bridges
Humboldt, IL 61931
(217) 268-4101
Humboldt, IL 61931
(217) 268-4101
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
P O Box 37
Humboldt, IL 61931
(217) 856-2116
Humboldt, IL 61931
(217) 856-2116
Grades: K-5
| 142 students
P O Box 129
Lerna, IL 62440
(217) 234-9298
Lerna, IL 62440
(217) 234-9298
Grades: K-3
| 54 students
1200 S 17th St
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-7626
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-7626
Grades: K-3
| 317 students
2405 Champaign Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-8800
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 238-8800
Grades: 7-12
| 163 students
1200 Shelby Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-4464
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-4464
Grades: PK-3
| 148 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Coles County, IL?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Coles County, IL include Carl Sandburg Elementary School, Arland D Williams Jr Elementary School and Lake Crest Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Coles County?
12 public elementary schools are located in Coles County.
What is the racial composition of students in Coles County?
Coles County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the Illinois public elementary schools average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Coles County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Coles County include: Riddle Elementary School vs. Arland D Williams Jr Elementary School, Ashmore Elementary School vs. Carl Sandburg Elementary School, Carl Sandburg Elementary School vs. Ashmore Elementary School
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
