Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 71.4 percent of Meridian 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 an improvement over 2014, when 56.8 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 97; 33 (34.02 percent) were seniors.
Also according to ISBE, 13.9 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 rates at Pope County High School (34.1 percent), Hardin County High School (31.4 percent), Gallatin High School (15.9 percent), Eldorado High School (29.5 percent) and Carterville High School (61.5 percent) were all higher than at MHS. Cairo Junior/Senior High School (10 percent), was lower.
MHS students did better on reading (13.9 percent) and English (30.6 percent) and worse on math (2.8 percent) and science (5.6 percent).
Only 2.8 percent of MHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE.
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