Photo: Cosmo1976 · Public domainCary’s public schools outscore 75% of Illinois districts
34% of students in Cary’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Cary, 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.
Cary’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 37% and math 34% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Community High School District 155 spends $25,105 per student and Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 $16,761, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
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 Cary’s grade
A−: better than 75% of Illinois school districts, #210 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cary, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Cary
Oak Knoll Early Childhood Center
Grades PK–K · 316 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Cary · depends on your address
Deer Path Elem School
Grades K–5 · 452 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks School
Grades K–5 · 443 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Oak Knoll Early Childhood Center
Grades PK–K · 316 students · 16:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Cary · depends on your address
Deer Path Elem School
Grades K–5 · 452 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks School
Grades K–5 · 443 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Briargate Elem School
Grades 1–5 · 400 students · 16:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Cary · depends on your address
Deer Path Elem School
Grades K–5 · 452 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks School
Grades K–5 · 443 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Briargate Elem School
Grades 1–5 · 400 students · 16:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Cary · depends on your address
Deer Path Elem School
Grades K–5 · 452 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks School
Grades K–5 · 443 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Briargate Elem School
Grades 1–5 · 400 students · 16:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Cary · depends on your address
Deer Path Elem School
Grades K–5 · 452 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks School
Grades K–5 · 443 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Briargate Elem School
Grades 1–5 · 400 students · 16:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Cary · depends on your address
Deer Path Elem School
Grades K–5 · 452 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks School
Grades K–5 · 443 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Briargate Elem School
Grades 1–5 · 400 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Cary runs its own schools through grade 8 (Cary Community Consolidated School District 26). From grade 9, students attend the Community High School District 155, shared with Algonquin, Bull Valley, Crystal Lake, Cuba, Dorr, Fox River Grove, Grafton, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Nunda, Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove and Trout Valley. Its elementary school is in Cary. Parts of Cary (10% and 7% of its land) are served by Community Unit School District 300 and Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Cary
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Cary vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Cary’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Cary | A− | Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 PK–8 · Community High School District 155 9–12 |
| Trout Valley | — | Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 PK–8 · Community High School District 155 9–12 |
| Algonquin | B+ | Community Unit School District 300 |
| Lake in the Hills | B+ | Community Unit School District 300 PK–12 · Huntley Consolidated School District 158 PK–12 · Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 PK–8 |
| Crystal Lake | B+ | Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 PK–8 · Community High School District 155 9–12 |
| Fox River Grove | A− | Fox River Grove Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Community High School District 155 9–12 |
4 of the 5 neighbors share Community High School District 155 with Cary for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Cary
8 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 Cary’s schools
Are Cary’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Cary children attend outscore 75% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #210 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 73%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Cary in?
Two districts: Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 runs grades PK–8, and Community High School District 155 runs grades 9–12, shared with Algonquin, Bull Valley, Crystal Lake, Cuba, Dorr, Fox River Grove, Grafton, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Nunda, Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove and Trout Valley.
Where do Cary kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Crystal Lake Central High School, Cary-Grove Community High School, Crystal Lake South High School and Prairie Ridge High School.
What is Cary’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Community High School District 155 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Cary spend per student?
$25,105 in Community High School District 155 and $16,761 in Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Cary families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cary → 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.