Cairo Usd 1, IL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Cairo Usd 1

Cairo USD 1 is a small district in Alexander County, Illinois, serving children from prekindergarten through grade twelve. The district comprises two schools: Cairo Elementary School and Cairo Jr/Sr High School. Current enrollment is small, at approximately two hundred ninety students spread across all grade bands, with a student body that is predominantly Black, and a smaller share of white and multiracial students. Demographic data on free and reduced price lunch eligibility, English learners, and special education enrollment was not available in the data provided.

State assessment results show proficiency rates that are very low across both mathematics and English language arts in the tested grades, with nearly all grades showing proficiency well below what would be expected to meet state standards. In third-grade math, proficiency was in the low double digits; in fourth-grade math, no students met proficiency. Fifth-grade math showed low single-digit proficiency, sixth and eighth grades showed zero proficiency in math, and seventh-grade math showed similarly sparse results. English language arts proficiency rates follow a similar pattern: third and fourth grades in the low single digits, fifth grade slightly higher at low double digits, sixth grade at around twenty percent, seventh grade at zero, and eighth grade in the single digits. Science assessment results, available for fifth and eighth grades, show proficiency in the low double digits for fifth grade and zero for eighth grade. The district did report high participation rates on these assessments, generally above ninety percent, indicating that absences were not the driver of these results.

A meaningful recent development is the district's partnership with OneGoal, a postsecondary-readiness program. Cairo Jr/Sr High School launched its first cohort of approximately twenty-five juniors into the OneGoal Fellows curriculum during the prior school year, with that cohort advancing into senior-year programming in the current school year. This multi-year college and career readiness curriculum represents a sustained institutional commitment to preparing students for what comes after high school. For a district where nearly all students face economic disadvantage, embedding such programming offers a structured pathway and support system that extends beyond traditional classroom instruction.

The assessment performance and enrollment patterns suggest a district serving a deeply economically challenged community with significant academic headwinds. A parent considering Cairo USD 1 should view the OneGoal partnership as a concrete investment in postsecondary preparation, while also recognizing that the current state assessment data reflects substantial gaps in foundational math and literacy skills. The district's small size means close-knit, personalized environments in both schools, but also likely fewer specialized program options than larger neighboring districts. Graduation rate data was not available in the information provided. A parent evaluating this district would benefit from direct conversation with school leadership about intervention strategies, tutoring support, and how the district is working to move proficiency rates upward in the foundational grades.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

294

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 2%

Black 74%

White 12%

Two+ 12%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

—

Gr 4

—

Gr 5

14%

—

Gr 6

20%

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

—

Math

Gr 3

21%

—

Gr 4

—

Gr 5

—

Gr 6

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

—

Science

Gr 5

14%

—

Gr 8

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Cairo Jr/Sr High School

Cairo Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

21%

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

Grade 3

Grade 4

14%

Grade 5

20%

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

14%

Grade 5

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$52,792

Year-over-year change-17.2%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$40K to $112K

vs. state typical0.18x

vs. national typical0.14x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
62914	Cairo	$40K	-18.6%	31.4%
62988	Tamms	$112K	-10.5%	6.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$266/mo

Home price / national median income0.6x

Comparison

State typical home value$290,210 (+4.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.