Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 61 percent of Harrisburg High School's (HHS) 2015 graduating class enrolled in college within 12 months of graduation.
The 2015 state average for students in public schools was 70 percent.
For HHS, its college enrollment rate marks a decline since 2014, when 72.2 percent of its graduates chose post-secondary education.
The data, collected by the National Student Clearinghouse, includes two- and four-year colleges.
Enrollment at HHS in 2015 was 613; 145 (23.65 percent) were seniors.
Also according to ISBE, 38.2 percent of HHS 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 Goreville High School (39.5 percent) and Vienna High School (47.4 percent) were higher than at HHS. Herrin High School (36.3 percent), Galatia High School (33.3 percent), Hardin County High School (31.4 percent), Johnston City High School (29.9 percent), Century Junior/Senior High School (24 percent), Christopher High (27.5 percent), and Zeigler-Royalton High School (36.8 percent) were all lower.
HHS students did better on reading (33.8 percent) and English (57.4 percent) and worse on math (19.9 percent) and science (27.9 percent.
Only 12.5 percent of HHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE.
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