Photo: Dwatling98 · CC BY-SA 4.0McHenry’s public schools score below 55% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
19% of students in McHenry’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving McHenry, 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.
McHenry’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1354 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of McHenry’s, its schools beat 38%, lower than their 45% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 26% of tested students were proficient in reading and 19% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
McHenry Community High School District 156 spends $19,440 per student and McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15 $23,286, 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 McHenry’s grade
B−: better than 45% of Illinois school districts, #488 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve McHenry, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in McHenry
Edgebrook Elem School
Grades PK–3 · 494 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Mchenry
6th grade in McHenry · depends on your address
McHenry Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 695 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Parkland School
Grades 6–8 · 645 students · 11:1 students per teacher
7th grade in McHenry · depends on your address
McHenry Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 695 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Parkland School
Grades 6–8 · 645 students · 11:1 students per teacher
8th grade in McHenry · depends on your address
McHenry Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 695 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Parkland School
Grades 6–8 · 645 students · 11:1 students per teacher
9th grade in McHenry
McHenry Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,214 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Mchenry
10th grade in McHenry
McHenry Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,214 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Mchenry
McHenry runs its own schools through grade 8 (McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15). From grade 9, students attend the McHenry Community High School District 156, shared with Bull Valley, Greenwood, Holiday Hills, Island Lake, Johnsburg, Lakemoor, McCullom Lake, McHenry, Nunda, Ringwood and Wonder Lake. Its elementary school is in McHenry. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve McHenry
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Below the state in reading
McHenry vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share McHenry’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| McHenry | B− | McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15 PK–8 · McHenry Community High School District 156 9–12 |
| Wonder Lake | B+ | Harrison School District 36 PK–8 · Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 PK–12 · McHenry Community High School District 156 9–12 |
| Johnsburg | B | Johnsburg Community Unit School District 12 PK–12 · McHenry Community High School District 156 9–12 |
| McCullom Lake | — | McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15 PK–8 · McHenry Community High School District 156 9–12 |
| Prairie Grove | B+ | Prairie Grove Community School District 46 PK–8 · Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 PK–8 · Community High School District 155 9–12 |
| Bull Valley | B+ | Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 PK–12 · McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15 PK–8 · McHenry Community High School District 156 9–12 |
4 of the 5 neighbors share McHenry Community High School District 156 with McHenry for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in McHenry
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 McHenry’s schools
Are McHenry’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools McHenry children attend score below 55% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #488 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 38%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is McHenry in?
Two districts: McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15 runs grades PK–8, and McHenry Community High School District 156 runs grades 9–12, shared with Bull Valley, Greenwood, Holiday Hills, Island Lake, Johnsburg, Lakemoor, McCullom Lake, McHenry, Nunda, Ringwood and Wonder Lake.
Where do McHenry kids go to high school?
McHenry Community High School in Mchenry, with 2,214 students.
What is McHenry’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in McHenry Community High School District 156 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does McHenry spend per student?
$19,440 in McHenry Community High School District 156 and $23,286 in McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What McHenry families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near McHenry → 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.