North Barrington’s public schools outscore 92% of Illinois districts
55% of students in North Barrington’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving North Barrington, 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.
North Barrington’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 49 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of North Barrington’s, its schools beat 55%, lower than their 92% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 55% and math 46% across both districts in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Barrington Community Unit School District 220 spends $26,068 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 North Barrington’s grade
A: better than 92% of Illinois school districts, #48 of 768 Illinois towns. 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 North Barrington, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in North Barrington · depends on your address
May Whitney Elem School
Grades PK–5 · 677 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
Barrington Early Learning Center
Grades PK · 194 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Barrington
9th grade in North Barrington · depends on your address
Barrington High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,718 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Barrington
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
10th grade in North Barrington · depends on your address
Barrington High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,718 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Barrington
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
11th grade in North Barrington · depends on your address
Barrington High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,718 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Barrington
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
12th grade in North Barrington · depends on your address
Barrington High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,718 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Barrington
Lake Zurich High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,839 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Lake Zurich
North Barrington runs its own schools through grade 12 (Barrington Community Unit School District 220). From grade PK, students attend the Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95, shared with Deer Park, Ela, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Lake Zurich. Its elementary school is in Lake Zurich. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve North Barrington
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
North Barrington vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share North Barrington’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| North Barrington | A | Barrington Community Unit School District 220 PK–12 · Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 PK–12 |
| Lake Barrington | A | Barrington Community Unit School District 220 |
| Lake Zurich | A | Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 PK–12 · Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 9–12 |
| Deer Park | A | Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 PK–12 · Barrington Community Unit School District 220 PK–12 · Township High School District 211 9–12 |
| Ela | 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 |
| Cuba | A | Barrington Community Unit School District 220 PK–12 · Community High School District 155 9–12 |
3 of the 5 neighbors share Barrington Community Unit School District 220 with North Barrington for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in North Barrington
19 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 North Barrington’s schools
Are North Barrington’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools North Barrington children attend outscore 92% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #48 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 55%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is North Barrington in?
Two districts: Barrington Community Unit School District 220 runs grades PK–12, and Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 runs grades PK–12, shared with Deer Park, Ela, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Lake Zurich.
Where do North Barrington kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Barrington High School and Lake Zurich High School.
What is North Barrington’s graduation rate?
94% of the class of 2023 in Barrington Community Unit School District 220 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does North Barrington spend per student?
$26,068 in Barrington Community Unit School District 220 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 North Barrington families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near North Barrington → 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.