The Illinois State Board of Education records data concerning faculty salary, retention, and attendance because maintaining a stable faculty makes for a better environment for teachers and students, furthering student success, according to the report.
There were 102 full-time faculty members in Mercer County, with a student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. There are 1,255 students enrolled at the five schools.
The average salary for teachers within the county is $54,968, ranking it 34th out of 102 counties in the state for pay.
About 76 percent of teachers in the county were absent 10 days or fewer in 2022, compared to 66 percent of teachers in the state.
Salaries vary depending on the school and district, as well as the teacher's level of experience and education, according to the report. The U.S. Department of Education considers teacher attendance a "leading indicator" of how well students perform. When a high rate of teachers is absent more than 10 days, data shows students perform worse.
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