Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 52.7 percent of Marion High School's (MHS) 2015 graduating class enrolled in college within 12 months of graduation.
The 2015 state average for students in public schools was 70 percent.
For MHS, its college enrollment rate marks a decline since 2014, when 63.9 percent of its graduates chose post-secondary education.
The data, collected by the National Student Clearinghouse, includes two- and four-year colleges.
Enrollment at MHS in 2015 was 1,119; 251 (22.43 percent) were seniors.
Also according to ISBE, 42.4 percent of MHS 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 rate at Massac County High School (43.5 percent) was higher. Pope County Community High School (34.1 percent), Hardin County High School (31.4 percent), Crab Orchard High School (28.9 percent), Egyptian Senior High School (8.7 percent), Cairo Junior/Senior High School (10 percent), Christopher High (27.5 percent) and Zeigler-Royalton High School (36.8 percent) were all lower.
MHS students did better on reading (40.3 percent) and English (59.2 percent) and worse on science (34.9 percent) and math (37 percent).
Only 23.5 percent of MHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE.
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