Original Research by School Decision on Red Bud High School
Red Bud High School is a standard public high school serving grades nine through twelve in the small city of Red Bud, in northwestern Randolph County, Illinois, roughly forty miles southeast of St. Louis. The school enrolls a small student body, with about the same number of students in each high school grade, plus a small group in grade eight. The enrollment is predominantly white, with minimal racial and ethnic diversity; Hispanic students make up a modest share, and other communities of color are very small in number.
State testing data for Red Bud High School was not available. The school serves high school grades, which are not tested under Illinois's state assessment system; the state administers its testing program only through grade eight. This means there is no standardized academic performance data to report for this school, which is typical for secondary schools. A parent seeking information about academic strength at this level would need to look into course offerings, AP or dual-credit pathways, teacher credentials, or other local indicators the school itself can provide.
The school sits in Red Bud, a city of small to moderate size that straddles historic downtown commerce around Main and Market Streets and an economy anchored in healthcare, manufacturing, and education. Red Bud Regional Hospital, Red Bud Industries (a coil processing manufacturer), and the Southwestern Illinois College Red Bud Campus are major local employers. The city is experiencing active industrial and commercial development through the Red Bud Business Park expansion and state and federal infrastructure funding, though no major new residential subdivisions were identified in public sources.
Housing in the Red Bud zip code is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, with home values below state and national medians. This positioning may appeal to families seeking affordable entry to homeownership in a small-city setting. The community has walkable downtown anchors, public library services, and access to regional transportation, alongside the institutional presence of the college campus.
At the district level, Red Bud CUSD 132 completed a significant capital project at Red Bud Elementary School between 2022 and 2023, adding dedicated spaces for band, chorus, music, STEM, and art instruction alongside a new gymnasium. That expansion reflects investment in specialty programming and facility capacity at the elementary building that serves the bulk of the district's students.
Free or reduced price lunch data, special education enrollment, and English learner counts were not available for this school. Detailed information about course breadth, clubs, athletics, or community partnerships was not provided in the available data. A parent evaluating this school would want to visit the building, speak with current families, and review what the school itself publishes about academics and student life.
See more original research from School Decision →