Benton Township’s public schools score below 82% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
11% of students in Benton Township’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Benton Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.
From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Benton Township’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1408 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Benton Township’s, its schools beat 10%, lower than their 18% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 15% of tested students were proficient in reading and 11% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 spends $22,286 per student and Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 $20,690, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Four elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Affirm Leadership Christian Academy (private) and Our Lady of Humility School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Benton Township’s grade
C−: better than 18% of Illinois school districts, #656 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Benton Township, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Benton Township · depends on your address
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Winthrop Harbor
Oak Crest School
Grades PK–5 · 308 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Beach Park
6th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Beach Park Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 715 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Beach Park
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Winthrop Harbor
7th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Beach Park Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 715 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Beach Park
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Winthrop Harbor
8th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Beach Park Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 715 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Beach Park
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Winthrop Harbor
9th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
10th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
11th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
12th grade in Benton Township · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Parts of Benton Township (8% and 4% of its land) are served by Zion Elementary School District 6 and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Benton Township
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Benton Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Benton Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Benton Township | C− | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Winthrop Harbor School District 1 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Zion | — | Zion Elementary School District 6 PK–8 · Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Zion (city) | D | Zion Elementary School District 6 PK–8 · Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Beach Park | D | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 PK–12 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Winthrop Harbor | C | Winthrop Harbor School District 1 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Wadsworth | C | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Gurnee School District 56 PK–8 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 |
| Newport | B | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Millburn Community Consolidated School District 24 PK–8 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 |
| Waukegan | — | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 |
6 of the 7 neighbors share Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 with Benton Township for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades. Pleasant Prairie, WI borders Benton Township but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.
Every school in Benton Township
10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Benton Township’s schools
Are Benton Township’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Benton Township children attend score below 82% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #656 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 10%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Benton Township in?
Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 2,533 students in 2 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Benton Township are served by Zion Elementary School District 6 and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60.
Where do Benton Township kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch and Zion-Benton East High School.
What is Benton Township’s graduation rate?
88% of the class of 2023 in Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Benton Township spend per student?
$22,286 in Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, $20,690 in Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 and $18,592 in Winthrop Harbor School District 1 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Benton Township?
Yes: Affirm Leadership Christian Academy (religious · all-girls, grades PK–10, 27 students) and Our Lady of Humility School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 13 students).
Parents talk
What Benton Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Benton Township → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.