Photo: Jefe317 · CC BY-SA 3.0North Chicago’s public schools outscore 73% of Illinois districts
Math proficiency in North Chicago’s districts is 35%, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving North Chicago, 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 Chicago’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 1262 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of North Chicago’s, its schools beat 91%, higher than their 73% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 33% and math 35% across its 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
North Chicago School District 187 spends $21,273 per student and Lake Forest Community High School District 115 $43,306, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Two elementary schools, then one middle and four high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
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 Chicago’s grade
B+: better than 73% of Illinois school districts, #238 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 North Chicago, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in North Chicago
Green Bay Early Childhood Center
Grades PK · 211 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in North Chicago · depends on your address
Forrestal Elem School
Grades K–3 · 386 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Great Lakes
Evelyn Alexander School
Grades K–3 · 354 students · 12:1 students per teacher
1st grade in North Chicago · depends on your address
Forrestal Elem School
Grades K–3 · 386 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Great Lakes
Evelyn Alexander School
Grades K–3 · 354 students · 12:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in North Chicago · depends on your address
Forrestal Elem School
Grades K–3 · 386 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Great Lakes
Evelyn Alexander School
Grades K–3 · 354 students · 12:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in North Chicago · depends on your address
Forrestal Elem School
Grades K–3 · 386 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Great Lakes
Evelyn Alexander School
Grades K–3 · 354 students · 12:1 students per teacher
4th grade in North Chicago
A J Katzenmaier Academy
Grades 4–5 · 387 students · 15:1 students per teacher
5th grade in North Chicago
A J Katzenmaier Academy
Grades 4–5 · 387 students · 15:1 students per teacher
6th grade in North Chicago
Neal Math Science Academy
Grades 6–8 · 601 students · 15:1 students per teacher
7th grade in North Chicago
Neal Math Science Academy
Grades 6–8 · 601 students · 15:1 students per teacher
8th grade in North Chicago
Neal Math Science Academy
Grades 6–8 · 601 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Parts of North Chicago (3% and 3% of its land) are served by Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 and Oak Grove School District 68 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve North Chicago
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
North Chicago vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share North Chicago’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| North Chicago | B+ | North Chicago School District 187 PK–12 · Lake Forest Community High School District 115 9–12 · Libertyville Community High School District 128 9–12 |
| Shields | B+ | Lake Forest School District 67 PK–8 · North Chicago School District 187 PK–12 · Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 PK–8 |
| Waukegan | — | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 |
| Lake Bluff | A+ | Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 PK–8 · Lake Forest Community High School District 115 9–12 |
| Waukegan (city) | C | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 PK–12 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 · Libertyville Community High School District 128 9–12 |
| Libertyville | A+ | Libertyville School District 70 PK–8 · Oak Grove School District 68 K–8 · Libertyville Community High School District 128 9–12 |
2 of the 5 neighbors share Lake Forest Community High School District 115 with North Chicago for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in North Chicago
7 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 Chicago’s schools
Are North Chicago’s schools good?
By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools North Chicago children attend outscore 73% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #238 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 91%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is North Chicago in?
North Chicago School District 187, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,637 students in 8 schools (2024–25). Small parts of North Chicago are served by Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 and Oak Grove School District 68.
Where do North Chicago kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Libertyville High School, Vernon Hills High School, Lake Forest High School and North Chicago Community High Sch.
What is North Chicago’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Libertyville Community High School District 128 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does North Chicago spend per student?
$21,273 in North Chicago School District 187, $43,306 in Lake Forest Community High School District 115 and $33,792 in Libertyville Community High School District 128 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What North Chicago families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near North Chicago → 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.