Editing Alton, Illinois (section)

==Education==
Based on 2006 district data, [[Alton Community Unit School District 11]] enrollment stands at 6,480; the average number of teaching years in the district is 13.5; the high school graduation rate is 97.7%; the elementary pupil-teacher ratio is 18.9; and the secondary pupil-teacher ratio is 22.3. The Alton High School has an award-winning math team and music program. Alton High School offers an honors program.

[[Alton High School]] is the new public school, complete with a three-court gymnasium and six tennis courts.

The Alton Middle School is housed in the old Alton High School complex. Alton Middle School serves grades 6–8. The school is made up of three buildings: the main building, annex, and Olin Building. The Main building is the oldest. It is of architectural interest for its [[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque design]]. Alton Middle School is the largest middle school in Illinois, with approximately 1,500 students.

The school system has a student program for 1st through 8th grades, covering the Middle School. This program gives participating students access to wider knowledge as well as special projects.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

[[Marquette Catholic High School (Alton, Illinois)|Marquette Catholic High School]], named after the French explorer, Father [[Jacques Marquette]], serves the area as well. Its sports teams are called the Explorers.

Alton was home to [[Shurtleff College]] from 1827 to 1957 and prominent military prep school [[Western Military Academy]] from 1879 to 1971. The Shurtleff campus is now the site of the [[Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine]].