Photo: Madcoverboy · CC BY-SA 3.0Evanston’s public schools outscore 81% of Illinois districts
Math proficiency in Evanston’s districts is 40%, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Evanston, 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.
Evanston’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1163 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Evanston’s, its schools beat 88%, higher than their 81% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 41% and math 40% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Evanston Community Consolidated School District 65 spends $31,256 per student and Evanston Township High School District 202 $31,637, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Chiaravalle Montessori School (private), St. Athanasius School (private), Roycemore School (private), Beacon Academy (private), Guidepost Montessori at Evanston (private), The Barbereux School (private), Fusion Academy Ev: Evanston (private) and Kingsway Preparatory 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 Evanston’s grade
A−: better than 81% of Illinois school districts, #142 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 Evanston, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Evanston
Joseph E Hill Education Center
Grades PK · 258 students · 10:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Evanston
Evanston Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 3,560 students · 12:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Evanston
Evanston Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 3,560 students · 12:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Evanston
Evanston Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 3,560 students · 12:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Evanston
Evanston Twp High School
Grades 9–12 · 3,560 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Evanston runs its own schools through grade 8 (Evanston Community Consolidated School District 65). From grade 9, students attend the Evanston Township High School District 202. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Evanston
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
Evanston vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Evanston’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Evanston | A− | Evanston Community Consolidated School District 65 PK–8 · Evanston Township High School District 202 9–12 |
| Niles | A− | Niles Township Community High School District 219 |
| Skokie | B+ | Skokie School District 68 K–8 · Niles Township Community High School District 219 9–12 |
| New Trier | A+ | Wilmette School District 39 PK–8 · Glencoe School District 35 PK–8 · Winnetka School District 36 K–8 |
| Wilmette | A+ | Wilmette School District 39 PK–8 · New Trier Township High School District 203 9–12 |
| Chicago | C | Chicago Public School District 299 PK–12 · Maine Township High School District 207 9–12 · Township High School District 214 9–12 |
Every school in Evanston
23 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).
Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Park School, Rice Childrens Center and ETHS Day School).
Questions about Evanston’s schools
Are Evanston’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Evanston children attend outscore 81% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #142 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 88%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Evanston in?
Two districts: Evanston Community Consolidated School District 65 runs grades PK–8, and Evanston Township High School District 202 runs grades 9–12.
Where do Evanston kids go to high school?
Evanston Twp High School, with 3,560 students; its own test results earn an A.
What is Evanston’s graduation rate?
93% of the class of 2023 in Evanston Township High School District 202 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Evanston spend per student?
$31,256 in Evanston Community Consolidated School District 65 and $31,637 in Evanston Township High School District 202 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Evanston?
Yes: Chiaravalle Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 333 students), St. Athanasius School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 313 students), Roycemore School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 231 students), Beacon Academy (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 155 students), Guidepost Montessori at Evanston (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 109 students), The Barbereux School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 50 students), Fusion Academy Ev: Evanston (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 30 students) and Kingsway Preparatory School (religious, grades PK–1, 12 students).
Parents talk
What Evanston families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Evanston → 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.