Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA · CC BY 2.0Park Forest’s public schools score below 79% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
In Park Forest, 7% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Park Forest, 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.
Park Forest’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 13% of tested students were proficient in reading and 7% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Rich Township High School District 227 spends $38,455 per student and Park Forest School District 163 $26,613, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Eight elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. 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 Park Forest’s grade
C−: better than 21% of Illinois school districts, #628 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Park Forest, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Park Forest · depends on your address
Crete-Monee Early Childhood Cntr
Grades PK · 256 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Crete
Algonquin Primary Center
Grades PK · 127 students · 25:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Crete-Monee Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 1,002 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in University Park
Michelle Obama Sch of Technology
Grades 6–8 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Barack Obama Sch of Ldership
Grades 4–6 · 367 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Chicago Heights
7th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Crete-Monee Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 1,002 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in University Park
Michelle Obama Sch of Technology
Grades 6–8 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Crete-Monee Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 1,002 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in University Park
Michelle Obama Sch of Technology
Grades 6–8 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Rich Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,433 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Olympia Fields
Crete-Monee High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,480 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Crete
10th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Rich Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,433 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Olympia Fields
Crete-Monee High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,480 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Crete
11th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Rich Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,433 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Olympia Fields
Crete-Monee High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,480 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Crete
12th grade in Park Forest · depends on your address
Rich Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,433 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Olympia Fields
Crete-Monee High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,480 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Crete
Parts of Park Forest (12% and 3% of its land) are served by Matteson Elementary School District 162 and Steger School District 194 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Park Forest
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Park Forest vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Park Forest’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Park Forest | C− | Park Forest School District 163 PK–8 · Crete-Monee Community Unit School District 201-U PK–12 · Rich Township High School District 227 9–12 |
| University Park | C | Crete-Monee Community Unit School District 201-U PK–12 · Rich Township High School District 227 9–12 |
| Matteson | C− | Elementary School District 159 PK–8 · Matteson Elementary School District 162 PK–8 · Rich Township High School District 227 9–12 |
| Richton Park | C− | Elementary School District 159 PK–8 · Matteson Elementary School District 162 PK–8 · Rich Township High School District 227 9–12 |
| Monee | C+ | Crete-Monee Community Unit School District 201-U |
| Chicago Heights | C | Chicago Heights School District 170 PK–8 · Bloom Township High School District 206 9–12 |
| Olympia Fields | C− | Matteson Elementary School District 162 PK–8 · Rich Township High School District 227 9–12 |
4 of the 6 neighbors share Rich Township High School District 227 with Park Forest for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Park Forest
12 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 Park Forest’s schools
Are Park Forest’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Park Forest children attend score below 79% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #628 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 23%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Park Forest in?
Rich Township High School District 227, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 2,433 students in 1 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Park Forest are served by Matteson Elementary School District 162 and Steger School District 194.
Where do Park Forest kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Rich Township High School and Crete-Monee High School.
What is Park Forest’s graduation rate?
81% of the class of 2023 in Rich Township High School District 227 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Park Forest spend per student?
$38,455 in Rich Township High School District 227, $26,613 in Park Forest School District 163 and $23,596 in Crete-Monee Community Unit School District 201-U (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Park Forest families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Park Forest → 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.