Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 44 percent of Zeigler-Royalton High School's (ZRHS) 2015 graduating class enrolled in college within 12 months of graduation.
The 2015 state average for students in public schools was 70 percent.
For ZRHS, its college enrollment rate marks a decline since 2014, when 45.5 percent of its graduates chose post-secondary education.
The data, collected by the National Student Clearinghouse, includes two -and four-year colleges.
Enrollment at ZRHS in 2015 was 170; 39 (22.94 percent) were seniors.
Also according to ISBE, 36.8 percent of ZRHS seniors were "college ready" in 2015, versus an average of 46 percent statewide.
All students who score a 21 on the ACT qualify as "college ready."
Among high schools in Southeast Illinois, the class of 2015 college readiness rates at Vienna High School (47.4 percent) and Marion High School (42.4 percent) were all higher than at ZRHS. Eldorado High School (29.5 percent), Joppa Junior & Senior High School (21.4 percent) and Meridian High School (13.9 percent) were all lower.
ZRHS students did better on reading (26.3 percent) and English (44.7 percent) and worse on math (18.4 percent) and science (26.3 percent).
Only 13.2 percent of ZRHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE.
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