Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) records show that 42.2 percent of Cahokia High School's (CHS) 2015 graduating class enrolled in college within 12 months of graduation.
The 2015 state average for students in public schools was 70 percent.
For CHS, its college enrollment rate marks a decline since 2014, when 53.0 percent of its graduates chose post-secondary education.
Among other high schools in Metro East, the Class of 2015 college-enrollment rates at Valmeyer High School (61.0 percent), Highland High School (56.5 percent), Waterloo High School (56.2 percent), North Mac High School (49.4 percent) and Gillespie High School (44.2 percent) were higher than that of CHS. Civic Memorial High School (40.8 percent) was lower.
The data, collected by the National Student Clearinghouse, includes two- and four-year colleges.
Enrollment at CHS in 2015 was 973; 194 (19.94 percent) were seniors.
ISBE said 8.9 percent of CHS seniors were "college ready" in 2015, vs. an average of 46 percent statewide.
All students who score a 21 or higher on the ACT qualify as "college ready."
CHS students did better in math (12.5 percent) and English (22.9 percent) and worse in science (6.3) and reading (9.9).
Only 3.1 percent of CHS students were college-ready in all four subjects, ISBE said.
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