Henry I. Paddock House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWinthrop Harbor’s public schools score below 66% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
Math proficiency in Winthrop Harbor’s districts is 13%, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Winthrop Harbor, 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.
Winthrop Harbor’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1178 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Winthrop Harbor’s, its schools beat 18%, lower than their 34% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 17% of tested students were proficient in reading and 13% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 spends $22,286 per student and Winthrop Harbor School District 1 $18,592, 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 Winthrop Harbor’s grade
C: better than 34% of Illinois school districts, #553 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 Winthrop Harbor, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Winthrop Harbor
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Winthrop Harbor
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Winthrop Harbor
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Winthrop Harbor
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Winthrop Harbor
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Winthrop Harbor
Westfield School
Grades PK–4 · 346 students · 13:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Winthrop Harbor
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Winthrop Harbor
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Winthrop Harbor
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Winthrop Harbor
North Prairie Jr High
Grades 5–8 · 240 students · 10:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Winthrop Harbor · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
10th grade in Winthrop Harbor · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
11th grade in Winthrop Harbor · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
12th grade in Winthrop Harbor · depends on your address
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch
Grades 9–12 · 2,114 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Zion-Benton East High School
Grades 9–12 · 419 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Zion
Winthrop Harbor runs its own schools through grade 8 (Winthrop Harbor School District 1). From grade 9, students attend the Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, shared with Beach Park, Benton, Newport, Wadsworth, Zion and Zion. Its elementary school is in Winthrop Harbor. Parts of Winthrop Harbor (16% of its land) are served by Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Winthrop Harbor
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
Winthrop Harbor vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Winthrop Harbor’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Winthrop Harbor | C | Winthrop Harbor School District 1 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Benton | C− | Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Winthrop Harbor School District 1 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Zion | — | Zion Elementary School District 6 PK–8 · Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
| Zion (city) | D | Zion Elementary School District 6 PK–8 · Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 PK–8 · Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 9–12 |
All 3 neighbors share Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 with Winthrop Harbor for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades. Pleasant Prairie, WI borders Winthrop Harbor but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.
Every school in Winthrop Harbor
4 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 Winthrop Harbor’s schools
Are Winthrop Harbor’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Winthrop Harbor children attend score below 66% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #553 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 18%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Winthrop Harbor in?
Two districts: Winthrop Harbor School District 1 runs grades PK–8, and Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 runs grades 9–12, shared with Beach Park, Benton, Newport, Wadsworth, Zion and Zion.
Where do Winthrop Harbor kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch and Zion-Benton East High School.
What is Winthrop Harbor’s graduation rate?
88% of the class of 2023 in Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Winthrop Harbor spend per student?
$22,286 in Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 and $18,592 in Winthrop Harbor School District 1 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Winthrop Harbor families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Winthrop Harbor → 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.