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Des Plaines, ILPhoto: Randy Escalada · CC BY-SA 2.0
A−
Schools in Des Plaines · Maine Township High School District 207, Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62

Des Plaines’s public schools outscore 78% of Illinois districts

42% of students in Des Plaines’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Des Plaines, 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.

#180of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
42%
▲ 13 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
31%
▲ 6 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 4 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$29.3K
▲ 36% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Maine Township High School District 207
Students per teacher
12.5
IL 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
10,792 students on the public path
In brief

Des Plaines’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 42% and math 31% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Maine Township High School District 207 spends $29,333 per student and Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 $26,014, 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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Des Plaines’s grade

A− Test scoresB Graduation

A−: better than 78% of Illinois school districts, #180 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 78%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1133)Better than 82%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,656 test results and a graduating class of 1,605 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Des Plaines’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,140 in math, 4,172 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Des Plaines, with each school’s own grade.

9 schools teach K in Des Plaines’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from C+ to A, so check the specific school.
Forest Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
658 students12:1Rate it →
North Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
599 students11:1Rate it →
Iroquois Community School
Elementary · Grades K–8
A
411 students12:1Rate it →
Central Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
322 students12:1Rate it →
Plainfield Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
285 students11:1Rate it →
Cumberland Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
279 students7:1Rate it →
Orchard Place Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
258 students8:1Rate it →
South Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
253 students9:1Rate it →
Terrace Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
206 students7:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
K–59 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB to A
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A

Des Plaines runs its own schools through grade 8 (Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62). From grade 9, students attend the Maine Township High School District 207, shared with Chicago, Harwood Heights, Maine, Niles, Norwood Park, Park Ridge and Rosemont. Its elementary school is in Des Plaines. Parts of Des Plaines (20%, 18% and 4% of its land) are served by Township High School District 214, Community Consolidated School District 59 and River Trails School District 26 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Des Plaines

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Maine Township High School District 207Grades 9–12 · 3 schools · 6,272 students · 15.3 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$29,333IL $21,567 · FY2024
A−
Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62Grades PK–8 · 11 schools · 4,520 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 10.0 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$26,014IL $21,567 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2020–21

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Maine Township High School District 20738%
State average 29.9% · 1541 students tested
Math · 9–12, Maine Township High School District 20734%
State average 25.8% · 1553 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 6245%
State average 29.9% · 2631 students tested
Math · PK–8, Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 6229%
State average 25.8% · 1587 students tested

Des Plaines vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Des Plaines’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Des PlainesA−Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 PK–8 · Maine Township High School District 207 9–12
Mount ProspectB+Mount Prospect School District 57 PK–8 · Community Consolidated School District 59 PK–8 · River Trails School District 26 PK–8
MaineA−Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 PK–8 · Park Ridge Consolidated Community School District 64 PK–8 · East Maine School District 63 PK–8
ChicagoCChicago Public School District 299 PK–12 · Maine Township High School District 207 9–12 · Township High School District 214 9–12
RosemontB+Rosemont Elementary School District 78 PK–8 · Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 PK–8 · Leyden Community High School District 212 9–12
Elk GroveBCommunity Consolidated School District 59 PK–8 · Township High School District 214 9–12
Park RidgeAPark Ridge Consolidated Community School District 64 PK–8 · Maine Township High School District 207 9–12
GlenviewAGlenview Community Consolidated School District 34 PK–8 · Northfield Township High School District 225 9–12
NorthfieldAGlenview Community Consolidated School District 34 PK–8 · Northfield Township High School District 225 9–12
LeydenC−Mannheim School District 83 PK–8 · Leyden Community High School District 212 9–12
WheelingA−Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 PK–8 · Arlington Heights School District 25 PK–8 · Township High School District 214 9–12
Elk Grove VillageA−Community Consolidated School District 59 PK–8 · Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District 54 PK–8 · Township High School District 214 9–12

4 of the 11 neighbors share Maine Township High School District 207 with Des Plaines for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Des Plaines

14 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).

Also serving Des Plainesin other towns
Forest Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
658 students12:1Rate it →
North Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
599 students11:1Rate it →
Iroquois Community School
Elementary · Grades K–8
A
411 students12:1Rate it →
Central Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
322 students12:1Rate it →
Plainfield Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
285 students11:1Rate it →
Cumberland Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
279 students7:1Rate it →
Orchard Place Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
258 students8:1Rate it →
South Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
253 students9:1Rate it →
Terrace Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
206 students7:1Rate it →
Chippewa Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
652 students10:1Rate it →
Algonquin Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
597 students10:1Rate it →
Maine South High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Park Ridge
A
2,494 students17:1Rate it →
Maine East High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Park Ridge
B
1,921 students14:1Rate it →
Maine West High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,857 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Des Plaines’s schools

Are Des Plaines’s schools good?

By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Des Plaines children attend outscore 78% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #180 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 82%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Des Plaines in?

Two districts: Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 runs grades PK–8, and Maine Township High School District 207 runs grades 9–12, shared with Chicago, Harwood Heights, Maine, Niles, Norwood Park, Park Ridge and Rosemont.

Where do Des Plaines kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Maine South High School, Maine East High School and Maine West High School.

What is Des Plaines’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Maine Township High School District 207 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Des Plaines spend per student?

$29,333 in Maine Township High School District 207 and $26,014 in Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Des Plaines families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Des Plaines → 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.