Best Schools in Kankakee, Illinois
14 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Kankakee?
Use this page to compare every school in Kankakee 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.
Grace Christian Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Kankakee High School
High · Kankakee Sd 111. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Kankakee Trinity Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Kankakee for 2026 are Grace Christian Academy (6.8/10), Kankakee High School (6.4/10), and Kankakee Trinity Academy (6.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 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
14
11 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.1
out of 10
Median Home
$143,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
14
11 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.1
out of 10
Median Home
$143,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.4/10 despite 87% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Kankakee schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Kankakee
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (13 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grace Christian Academy | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Kankakee High School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Kankakee Trinity Academy | 6.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Mark Twain Primary School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Steuben Elementary School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Limestone Middle Sch | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | John Kennedy Middle Grade School | 5.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Lincoln Cltrl Ctr-montessori Elem | 4.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Kankakee Junior High School | 4.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Taft Primary School | 4.4 / 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
- 5.1/10
- Median household income
- $54,557
- Median home value
- $143,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 61%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Kankakee compares
Illinois rank
#382 of 444
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.2
below Illinois avg (6.2)
Median household income
$55k
67% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
14
About Schools in Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee's public school system covers 11 ranked schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The citywide average sits at 5.4 out of 10 — a number that tells only part of the story. Performance varies meaningfully from one building to the next, and the gap between the top school and the average is wide enough to matter in a parent's decision.
Mark Twain Primary School leads every ranked school in the city with a score of 6.8 out of 10 — a full 1.4 points above the city average. That is a significant edge at the elementary level, where foundational skills are built. Two other elementary options, Steuben Elementary (5.9) and Edison Primary (5.8), also score above the city average, giving parents researching the lower grades a clearer set of choices. Three of the five highest-rated schools in Kankakee are elementary schools, which suggests the strongest performance is concentrated at the entry level of the pipeline.
The secondary picture is solid but closer to the middle. Kankakee High School scores 6.2, second-best in the city and the top high school option in the ranking. Limestone Middle School, at 6.1, holds the strongest middle school position and sits within a tenth of a point of the high school. Both scores exceed the 5.4 city average, but neither approaches the margin Mark Twain Primary holds at the elementary level.
For parents researching Kankakee schools, the practical read is straightforward: the elementary tier offers the most differentiated options, and Mark Twain Primary stands clearly at the top. Families with children in the elementary grades have the strongest reason to compare buildings carefully. Those entering middle school or high school will find options that perform closer together and closer to the city mean. With 11 ranked schools total, the landscape is compact enough to research thoroughly — and the score spread makes that research worthwhile.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 212 students · Pre-K–3rd | 6.1 |
| 2 | 214 students · Pre-K–3rd | 6.0 |
| 3 | 515 students · 2nd–6th | 5.2 |
| 4 | 445 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.6 |
| 5 | 301 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 4.4 |
| 6 | 351 students · 3rd–6th | 3.8 |
| 7 | 205 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 2.7 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 465 students · 5th–8th | 5.9 |
| 2 | 502 students · 7th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,447 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 463 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Grace Christian Academy
Private
195 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | Kankakee Trinity Academy
Private
338 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 3 | 772 students · Pre-K–12th | 3.8 | ||
Schools in Kankakee
Kankakee, Illinois · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$54,557
Median Home Value
$143,200
Median Rent
$1,020/mo
Population
33,224
College Educated
16%
Homeownership
61%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
21.7%
Community Profile
Kankakee has a median household income of $54,557. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $143,200, with a median rent of $1,020/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Other
- 4
Resources
School Districts (2)
Nearby Cities
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 Kankakee, Illinois
How many schools are in Kankakee, Illinois?
Kankakee has 14 schools, including 11 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Kankakee, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Kankakee is 5.1 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 Kankakee, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Kankakee on MySchoolScout is Grace Christian Academy with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Kankakee, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Kankakee on MySchoolScout is Mark Twain Primary School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Kankakee, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Kankakee on MySchoolScout is Limestone Middle Sch with a composite score of 5.9/10.
What is the best high school in Kankakee, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Kankakee on MySchoolScout is Kankakee High School with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve Kankakee, Illinois?
Kankakee is served by 2 school districts: Herscher Cusd 2, Kankakee Sd 111.
What is the education level in Kankakee, Illinois?
According to Census data, 16% of adults in Kankakee have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Kankakee, Illinois?
The median household income in Kankakee is approximately $54,557 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Kankakee, Illinois?
Yes, Kankakee has 3 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Grace Christian Academy with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kankakee, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Kankakee is 17.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Kankakee, 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.