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Manhattan Rd east from Wauponsee Glacial Trail - Manhattan, IL - March 2025Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC BY 4.0
A
Schools in Manhattan · Lincoln Way Community High School District 210, Manhattan School District 114

Manhattan’s public schools outscore 89% of Illinois districts

In Manhattan, 50% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Manhattan, 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.

#76of 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
50%
▲ 20 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
40%
▲ 14 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 9 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.5K
▼ 9% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Lincoln Way Community High School District 210
Students per teacher
16.6
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
8,328 students on the public path
In brief

Manhattan’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 40% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 spends $19,546 per student and Manhattan School District 114 $11,780, 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 Manhattan’s grade

A Test scoresA Graduation

A: better than 89% of Illinois school districts, #76 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 89%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (579)Better than 90%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,680 test results and a graduating class of 1,588 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Manhattan’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,693 in math, 2,667 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–1Wilson Creek Elem SchManhattan School District 114No scores
2–3Anna McDonald Elem SchoolManhattan School District 114A−
6–8Manhattan Jr High SchoolManhattan School District 114B+
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A

Manhattan runs its own schools through grade 8 (Manhattan School District 114). From grade 9, students attend the Lincoln Way Community High School District 210, shared with Frankfort, Frankfort, Green Garden, Manhattan, Mokena, New Lenox, New Lenox, Tinley Park and Wilton. Its elementary school is in Manhattan. Parts of Manhattan (18% of its land) are served by Peotone Community Unit School District 207U instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Manhattan

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

Lincoln Way Community High School District 210Grades 9–12 · 3 schools · 6,734 students · 17.1 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$19,546IL $21,567 · FY2024
A
Manhattan School District 114Grades PK–8 · 4 schools · 2,011 students · 15.1 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$11,780IL $21,567 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2020–21

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Lincoln Way Community High School District 21050%
State average 29.9% · 1570 students tested
Math · 9–12, Lincoln Way Community High School District 21044%
State average 25.8% · 1696 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Manhattan School District 11450%
State average 29.9% · 1097 students tested
Math · PK–8, Manhattan School District 11433%
State average 25.8% · 997 students tested

Manhattan vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ManhattanAManhattan School District 114 PK–8 · Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 9–12

Every school in Manhattan

6 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 Manhattanin other towns
Wilson Creek Elem Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–1
545 students16:1Rate it →
Anna McDonald Elem School
Elementary · Grades 2–3
A−
434 students16:1Rate it →
Manhattan Jr High School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
615 students14:1Rate it →
Lincoln-Way East High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Frankfort
A
2,696 students18:1Rate it →
Lincoln Way West
High · Grades 9–12 · New Lenox
A−
2,047 students18:1Rate it →
Lincoln-Way Central High School
High · Grades 9–12 · New Lenox
A
1,991 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Manhattan’s schools

Are Manhattan’s schools good?

By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Manhattan children attend outscore 89% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #76 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Manhattan in?

Two districts: Manhattan School District 114 runs grades PK–8, and Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 runs grades 9–12, shared with Frankfort, Frankfort, Green Garden, Manhattan, Mokena, New Lenox, New Lenox, Tinley Park and Wilton.

Where do Manhattan kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Lincoln-Way East High School, Lincoln Way West and Lincoln-Way Central High School.

What is Manhattan’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Manhattan spend per student?

$19,546 in Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 and $11,780 in Manhattan School District 114 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Manhattan families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Manhattan → 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.