Best Schools in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
16 schools · 12 Elementary · 3 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Buffalo Grove?
Use this page to compare every school in Buffalo Grove by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Aptakisic Junior High School
Middle · Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Twin Groves Middle School
Middle · Kildeer Countryside Ccsd 96. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Earl Pritchett School
Elementary · Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Buffalo Grove for 2026 are Aptakisic Junior High School (8.7/10), Twin Groves Middle School (8.3/10), and Earl Pritchett School (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
16
12 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$393,000
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
16
12 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$393,000
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +12.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Buffalo Grove schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Buffalo Grove
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 16 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aptakisic Junior High School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Twin Groves Middle School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Earl Pritchett School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Cooper Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Prairie Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Tripp School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Ivy Hall Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Meridian School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Joyce Kilmer Elem School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Buffalo Grove High School | 6.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.2/10
- Median household income
- $129,932
- Median home value
- $393,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 67%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 82%
50% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Buffalo Grove compares
Illinois rank
#92 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$130k
159% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
14
Buffalo Grove's public schools split across 4 districts
No single ISD owns Buffalo Grove. The public campuses divide among 4 districts.
The largest shares: Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102 (4), Kildeer Countryside Ccsd 96 (4), Wheeling Ccsd 21 (3).
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.1 to 8.7 — the spread is inside Buffalo Grove, not a citywide average.
- Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 1024 public · 33%
- Kildeer Countryside Ccsd 964 public · 33%
- Wheeling Ccsd 213 public · 25%
- Township Hsd 2141 public · 8%
About Schools in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Buffalo Grove, Illinois offers parents a compact but consistently strong public school landscape. The city has 12 ranked public schools with an average score of 7.3 out of 10 — a mark that already clears the threshold most families use as a baseline for quality. More telling: 9 of those 12 schools, or 75%, score 7 or higher. That density of above-average performers is rare in suburban Illinois and makes Buffalo Grove a low-variance choice for families who don't want to game attendance zones.
At the elementary level, the options are genuinely competitive. Willow Grove Early Learning Center leads the city with an 8.8 out of 10 — the highest score among all 12 ranked schools. Meridian School and Tripp School both land at 8.2 and 8.1 respectively, meaning three elementary programs clear the 8-point mark. Parents shopping for a strong K–5 foundation won't need to stretch far to find it here.
The middle school pipeline holds up. Cooper Middle School scores 8.3, making it one of the top-performing schools in the city regardless of grade level. Aptakisic Junior High School follows at 8.1. Both scores suggest Buffalo Grove sustains academic momentum through the transition years — a common drop-off point in peer suburbs where elementary performance doesn't carry through to middle grades.
Practically, this means Buffalo Grove rewards parents who prioritize consistency over chasing a single standout school. The gap between the top score (8.8) and the city average (7.3) is just 1.5 points, which indicates a relatively tight performance band. Families who end up at a non-top-five school are unlikely to land somewhere dramatically weaker. That said, it's worth confirming your address against specific attendance boundaries before committing — Buffalo Grove spans multiple districts, and zoning determines which schools a child can actually access. Start with Willow Grove's feeder path if early childhood programming is the priority, or map backward from Cooper Middle if middle school outcomes are the deciding factor.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 471 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 405 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 8.0 | ||
| 3 | 463 students · 1st–5th | 7.3 | ||
| 4 | 517 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 6.9 | ||
| 5 | 494 students · 1st–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 6 | 675 students · 4th–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 7 | 579 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 8 | 493 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 38 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Mary SchoolPrivate 184 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 12 elementary schools in Buffalo Grove
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 885 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 594 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 |
| 3 | 694 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,038 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
Schools in Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove, Illinois · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$129,932
Median Home Value
$393,000
Median Rent
$2,042/mo
Population
42,781
College Educated
67%
Homeownership
82%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Community Profile
Buffalo Grove has a median household income of $129,932. It is a well-educated community where 67% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $393,000, with a median rent of $2,042/month. The local poverty rate of 6.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in Illinois
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
How many schools are in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
Buffalo Grove has 16 schools, including 12 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Buffalo Grove is 7.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Buffalo Grove on MySchoolScout is Aptakisic Junior High School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Buffalo Grove on MySchoolScout is Earl Pritchett School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Buffalo Grove on MySchoolScout is Aptakisic Junior High School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Buffalo Grove on MySchoolScout is Buffalo Grove High School with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
Buffalo Grove is served by 4 school districts: Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102, Township Hsd 214, Kildeer Countryside Ccsd 96, Wheeling Ccsd 21.
What is the education level in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
According to Census data, 67% of adults in Buffalo Grove have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The median household income in Buffalo Grove is approximately $129,932 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
Yes, Buffalo Grove has 4 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Buffalo Grove is 13.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Buffalo Grove, Illinois?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Illinois Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.