Original Research by School Decision on Project Soar
Project SOAR is an alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve in Murphysboro, a small Southern Illinois town in Jackson County. The school operates under the Regional Office of Education system rather than as a traditional district-bound campus.
Murphysboro itself is the Jackson County seat, a town with deep roots in the region's heritage—home to the Big Muddy Monster legend, the Apple Festival, and a compact, historically preserved downtown. The community has navigated decades of factory closures and population decline but in recent years has undertaken a deliberate revitalization. Downtown storefronts are being refilled, public art and streetscape work are underway, and a community-driven planning process with outside consultants has mapped out housing, business, and civic improvements. The state and federal government funded housing rehabilitation grants in early 2026. Housing ranges from modest early- and mid-twentieth-century homes to newer builds on the outskirts, and the market has favored sellers. Major employers include the hospital and county government; many residents commute the short distance to Carbondale, where Southern Illinois University anchors the regional job market.
The town's civic life centers on Riverside Park, which holds the historic WPA-era bandshell and hosts festivals and the Fourth of July concert, and on the compact walkable downtown along Walnut Street, where the Sallie Logan Public Library serves as a community hub. Retail clusters around Walnut and the Kroger on the north side. Transit is limited; the Big Muddy bus route to Carbondale runs four times a day.
Academic data for Project SOAR was not available. State testing results, graduation rates, enrollment figures, demographic breakdowns, chronic absenteeism rates, and staffing or course offerings were not reported, which reflects the nature of alternative schools and how they are tracked by state accountability systems. A parent may want to contact the school directly to understand its enrollment, academic structure, support services, student population, and outcomes for students it serves.
The school's address is in south Murphysboro on Shomaker Drive. Because Project SOAR is an alternative program rather than a traditional comprehensive high school, it likely serves students with distinct needs or circumstances—such as those working toward high school completion outside a conventional setting, older students, or those pursuing career or life pathways that require flexibility. Understanding whether Project SOAR is the right fit depends on learning directly what its mission is, what student cohort it enrolls, what academic and support services it provides, and what outcomes students achieve, questions a school visit or conversation with staff would answer.
See more original research from School Decision →