Forest Lake’s public schools outscore 94% of Illinois districts
In Forest Lake, 63% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Forest Lake, 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.
Forest Lake’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1169 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Forest Lake’s, its schools beat 100%, higher than their 94% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 63% and math 55% 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
Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 spends $31,024 per student and Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 $20,810, 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 Forest Lake’s grade
A: better than 94% of Illinois school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Forest Lake, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Forest Lake
May Whitney Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 677 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
6th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Lake Zurich Middle - N Campus
Grades 6–8 · 697 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Hawthorn Woods
Lake Zurich Middle - S Campus
Grades 6–8 · 599 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
7th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Lake Zurich Middle - N Campus
Grades 6–8 · 697 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Hawthorn Woods
Lake Zurich Middle - S Campus
Grades 6–8 · 599 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
8th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Lake Zurich Middle - N Campus
Grades 6–8 · 697 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Hawthorn Woods
Lake Zurich Middle - S Campus
Grades 6–8 · 599 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
9th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Adlai E Stevenson High School
Grades 9–12 · 4,758 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Lincolnshire
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
10th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Adlai E Stevenson High School
Grades 9–12 · 4,758 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Lincolnshire
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
11th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Adlai E Stevenson High School
Grades 9–12 · 4,758 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Lincolnshire
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
12th grade in Forest Lake · depends on your address
Adlai E Stevenson High School
Grades 9–12 · 4,758 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Lincolnshire
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
Forest Lake runs its own schools through grade 12 (Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95). From grade 9, students attend the Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125, shared with Buffalo Grove, Ela, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Mettawa, Vernon Hills and Vernon. Its elementary school is in Lake Zurich. Parts of Forest Lake (5% of its land) are served by Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Forest Lake
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
Forest Lake vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Forest Lake’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Lake | A | Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 PK–12 · Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 9–12 |
| Hawthorn Woods | A | Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 PK–12 · Fremont School District 79 PK–8 · Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 9–12 |
| Kildeer | A+ | Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 PK–12 · Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 PK–8 · Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 9–12 |
All 2 neighbors share Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 with Forest Lake for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Forest Lake
9 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 Forest Lake’s schools
Are Forest Lake’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Forest Lake children attend outscore 94% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 100%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Forest Lake in?
Two districts: Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 runs grades PK–12, and Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 runs grades 9–12, shared with Buffalo Grove, Ela, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Mettawa, Vernon Hills and Vernon.
Where do Forest Lake kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Adlai E Stevenson High School and Lake Zurich High School.
What is Forest Lake’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Forest Lake spend per student?
$31,024 in Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 and $20,810 in Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Forest Lake families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Forest Lake → 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.