Photo: edward P. steinburg desnged · CC BY-SA 3.0Waukegan’s public schools score below 71% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
In Waukegan, 19% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Waukegan, 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.
Waukegan’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 19% 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
78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Warren Township High School District 121 spends $20,075 per student and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 $23,440, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
15 elementary schools, then five middle and four high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% 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 Waukegan’s grade
C: better than 29% of Illinois school districts, #597 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Waukegan, with each school’s own grade.
Parts of Waukegan (14%, 11%, 10%, 8% and 4% of its land) are served by Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50, Gurnee School District 56, Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, Oak Grove School District 68 and Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Waukegan
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
Waukegan vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Waukegan’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Waukegan | 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 |
| Beach Park | D | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 PK–12 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Waukegan Township | — | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 |
| Park City | C | Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 PK–8 · Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 PK–12 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 |
| Gurnee | B− | Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 PK–8 · Gurnee School District 56 PK–8 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 |
| Wadsworth | C | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Gurnee School District 56 PK–8 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 |
| Green Oaks | A+ | Oak Grove School District 68 K–8 · Rondout School District 72 K–8 · Libertyville Community High School District 128 9–12 |
| Warren | B− | Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 PK–8 · Gurnee School District 56 PK–8 · Warren Township High School District 121 9–12 |
| 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 |
| Newport | B | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Millburn Community Consolidated School District 24 PK–8 · Warren Township High School District 121 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 |
5 of the 10 neighbors share Warren Township High School District 121 with Waukegan for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Waukegan
24 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 Waukegan’s schools
Are Waukegan’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Waukegan children attend score below 71% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #597 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 25%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Waukegan in?
Warren Township High School District 121, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 3,537 students in 1 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Waukegan are served by Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50, Gurnee School District 56, Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, Oak Grove School District 68 and Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3.
Where do Waukegan kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Waukegan High School, Warren Township High School, Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School.
What is Waukegan’s graduation rate?
78% of the class of 2023 in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Waukegan spend per student?
$20,075 in Warren Township High School District 121, $23,440 in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 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 Waukegan families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Waukegan → 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.