Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 57.6 percent of Massac County High School's (MCHS) 2015 graduating class enrolled in college within 12 months of graduation.
The 2015 state average for students in public schools was 70 percent.
For MCHS, its college enrollment rate marks a decline since 2014, when 68.3 percent of its graduates chose post-secondary education.
The data, collected by the National Student Clearinghouse, includes two- and four-year colleges.
Enrollment at MCHS in 2015 was 625; 144 (23.04 percent) were seniors.
Also according to ISBE, 43.5 percent of MCHS 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 Carterville High School (61.5 percent) and Vienna High School (47.4 percent were all higher than at MCHS. Hamilton County Junior/Senior High School (32.2 percent), Hardin County High School (31.4 percent), Johnston City High School (29.9 percent), Christopher High (27.5 percent), Zeigler-Royalton High School (36.8 percent), Sesser-Valier High School (37 percent) and Marion High School (42.4 percent) were all lower.
MCHS students did better on reading (38.1 percent) and English (67.3 percent) and worse on math (29.3 percent) and science (33.3 percent).
Only 18.4 percent of MCHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE.
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