Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 55.3 percent of Sesser-Valier High School's (SVHS) 2015 graduating class enrolled in college within 12 months of graduation.
The 2015 state average for students in public schools was 70 percent.
For SVHS, its college enrollment rate marks a decline since 2014, when 57.1 percent of its graduates chose post-secondary education.
The data, collected by the National Student Clearinghouse, includes two- and four-year colleges.
Enrollment at SVHS in 2015 was 229; 51 (22.27 percent) were seniors.
Also according to ISBE, 37 percent of SVHS seniors were "college ready" in 2015, versus an average of 46 percent statewide.
Among high schools in Southeast Illinois, the class of 2015 college readiness rates at Carterville High School (61.5 percent) and Goreville High School (39.5 percent) were all higher than at SVHS. Cairo Junior/Senior High School (10 percent), Christopher High (27.5 percent), and Zeigler-Royalton High School (36.8 percent) were all lower.
All students who score a 21 on the ACT qualify as "college ready."
SVHS students did better on reading (35.2 percent) and English (51.9 percent) and worse on science (24.1 percent) and math (31.5 percent).
Only 13 percent of SVHS students were college ready in all four subjects, according to ISBE.
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