| Index | Cowden | Illinois | National |
| Average Test Scores | 10% | 33% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | n/a | 18:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | n/a | 3,938 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 1,438 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | n/a | 306 | 7,963 |
| Index | Cowden | Illinois | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 79.1% | 86.2% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 75.7% | 84.7% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 32.1% | 61.8% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 15.7% | 40.7% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 9.1% | 32.9% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 1.0% | 12.7% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 0.0% | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.3% |
There are a total of n/a public schools, n/a private schools and n/a post-secondary schools in Cowden. Using the proficiency score averages, the average test scores for Cowden, IL schools is 10%. The average student to teacher ratio is n/a. In Cowden, IL, an average of 79.1% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 75.7% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Beecher City, IL | 373 | 46% | 4.7% |
| Shelbyville, IL | 4,198 | 44% | 8.3% |
| Strasburg, IL | 528 | 37% | 22.4% |
| Ramsey, IL | 871 | 36% | 25.5% |
| Herrick, IL | 367 | 32% | 33.3% |
| Cowden, IL | 538 | 10% | 79.2% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Parmelee, SD | 538 | 5% | 89.6% |
| Fillmore, NY | 538 | 65% | 34.4% |
| Parma, MI | 538 | 49% | 2.1% |
| Eva, AL | 538 | 46% | 4.2% |
| Lowell, OH | 538 | 67% | 39.6% |
| Cowden, IL | 538 | 10% | 79.2% |
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