Several excellent school systems serve the communities of the Illinois River Area. In addition, parents can elect to send their youngsters to parochial systems. Preschools are also available in the area. Seneca Community Consolidated School District 170 and Seneca Township High School District 160 serve the educational needs of Seneca's youngsters from kindergarten through 12th grade. Others attend either Rutland Consolidated School District 230 or Miller Township Community Consolidated School District 210.
All educational systems place strong emphasis on the basics of language arts and mathematics.
After eighth grade, Marseilles students complete their secondary education at Ottawa High School. Ottawa High School is comprised of three adjacent three-story buildings, which together contain about 250,000 square feet of space. They house classrooms, a swimming pool, auditorium, and three gymnasiums. The high school campus boasts football, softball, baseball, and soccer fields, and tennis courts. Some 1,450 students have a choice of more than 100 academic courses, plus some 50 career-oriented courses.