West Central Reporter

White students were the largest ethnic group in Brown County in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 683 students attending Brown County schools, 94.6% were white.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Brown County, representing 95.1% of the student body.

During the 2023-24 school year, all schools in Brown County had a predominantly single-race student body, consisting of white students.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s budget for fiscal year 2026 will increase from nearly $10.8 billion to about $11.2 billion. This includes a $307 million boost for K–12 schools, marking the smallest annual increase since 2020.

The agency has paused about $50 million in funding previously allocated through the Evidence-Based Funding formula for the Property Tax Relief Grant while reviewing its impact on local tax relief. Officials say the pause could affect the timing and amount of property tax relief available to taxpayers.

School name	Most prevalent ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Brown County Elementary School	White	96.9%	286
Brown County High School	White	93%	214
Brown County Middle School	White	92.9%	183

Information in this story was obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education. The source data can be found here.