For the 2025 school year, there are 12 public schools serving 2,476 students in Shelby County, IL (there are , serving 365 private students). 87% of all K-12 students in Shelby County, IL are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
The top ranked public schools in Shelby County, IL are Main Street Elementary School, Cowden-herrick Grade School and Moulton Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Shelby County, IL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 23% (versus the Illinois public school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 30% statewide average). Schools in Shelby County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Illinois public schools.
Minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Shelby County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Main Street Elementary School
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
225 W Main St
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-4731
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-4731
Grades: 1-3
| 375 students
Rank: #22.
Cowden-herrick Grade School
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 N Broadway St
Herrick, IL 62431
(618) 428-5223
Herrick, IL 62431
(618) 428-5223
Grades: K-5
| 161 students
Rank: #33.
Moulton Elementary School
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1101 W North 6th St
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-2169
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-2169
Grades: 4-8
| 448 students
Rank: #44.
Stewardson-strasburg Elementary School
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2806 E 600 North Rd
Strasburg, IL 62465
(217) 682-3621
Strasburg, IL 62465
(217) 682-3621
Grades: PK-8
| 274 students
Rank: #55.
Cowden-herrick Jr/sr High School
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
633 County Highway 22
Cowden, IL 62422
(217) 783-2125
Cowden, IL 62422
(217) 783-2125
Grades: 6-12
| 170 students
Rank: #66.
Windsor Elementary School
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
808 Wisconsin Ave
Windsor, IL 61957
(217) 459-2447
Windsor, IL 61957
(217) 459-2447
Grades: PK-6
| 202 students
Rank: #77.
Shelbyville High School
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1001 W North 6th St
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-3926
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-3926
Grades: 9-12
| 345 students
Rank: #88.
Stewardson-strasburg High School
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2806 E 600 North Rd
Strasburg, IL 62465
(217) 682-3355
Strasburg, IL 62465
(217) 682-3355
Grades: 9-12
| 145 students
Rank: #99.
Okaw Valley Middle School
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
501 W Division St
Findlay, IL 62534
(217) 756-8521
Findlay, IL 62534
(217) 756-8521
Grades: 5-8
| 129 students
Rank: #1010.
Windsor Jr & Sr High School
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1424 Minnesota Ave
Windsor, IL 61957
(217) 459-2636
Windsor, IL 61957
(217) 459-2636
Grades: 7-12
| 138 students
Rank: n/an/a
Shelbyville Bridges
Alternative School
201 E North 12th St
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-1037
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-1037
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
225 W Main St
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-4731
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-4731
Grades: K
| 89 students
Shelby County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Rr 128
Cowden, IL 62422
(217) 783-2125
Cowden, IL 62422
(217) 783-2125
Grades: PK-6
| 149 students
H E L P Shelbyville Elementary School (Closed 2009)
Special Education School
205 W Main
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-3191
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-3191
Grades: PK
| 28 students
249 Benton Street
Tower Hill, IL 62571
(217) 567-3121
Tower Hill, IL 62571
(217) 567-3121
Grades: 5-6
| 189 students
123 Co Rd 100 E
Sigel, IL 62462
(217) 844-3331
Sigel, IL 62462
(217) 844-3331
Grades: K-2
| 39 students
206 North Main St
Findlay, IL 62534
(217) 756-8522
Findlay, IL 62534
(217) 756-8522
Grades: 4-5
| 89 students
Po Box 157
Tower Hill, IL 62571
(217) 567-3121
Tower Hill, IL 62571
(217) 567-3121
Grades: 5-6
| 205 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Shelby County, IL?
The top ranked public schools in Shelby County, IL include Main Street Elementary School, Cowden-herrick Grade School and Moulton Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Shelby County?
12 public schools are located in Shelby County.
What percentage of students in Shelby County go to public school?
87% of all K-12 students in Shelby County are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Shelby County?
Shelby County public schools minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public schools average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Shelby County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Shelby County include: Shelbyville Kindergarten Center vs. Main Street Elementary School, Shelbyville Kindergarten Center vs. Cowden-herrick Grade School, Main Street Elementary School vs. Shelbyville Kindergarten Center
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.
