Best Schools in New Lenox, Illinois
19 schools · 9 Elementary · 6 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in New Lenox?
Use this page to compare every school in New Lenox 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.
Liberty Junior High School
Middle · New Lenox Sd 122. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Nelson Prairie School
Elementary · New Lenox Sd 122. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Lincoln-Way Central High School
High · Lincoln Way Chsd 210. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in New Lenox for 2026 are Liberty Junior High School (8.2/10), Nelson Prairie School (8.1/10), and Lincoln-Way Central High School (8.0/10), 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
19
14 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$373,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
19
14 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$373,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 16% 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 New Lenox schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +26.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among New Lenox schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in New Lenox
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 13 rated schools; 19 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty Junior High School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Nelson Prairie School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Lincoln-Way Central High School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Bentley Elem School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Haines Elem School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Alex M Martino JR High School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Oster-Oakview School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Nelson Ridge School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Spencer Crossing | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Lincoln Way West | 6.2 / 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
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $132,260
- Median home value
- $373,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 42%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 93%
44% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How New Lenox compares
Illinois rank
#205 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$132k
161% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
16
New Lenox SD 122 runs 86% of New Lenox's public schools
New Lenox touches 2 districts, but New Lenox SD 122 is the one most addresses actually attend.
New Lenox SD 122 accounts for 12 of 14 public schools (86%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 2.
Among 13 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.2 to 8.2 — the spread is inside New Lenox, not a citywide average.
- New Lenox SD 12212 public · 86%
- Lincoln Way Chsd 2102 public · 14%
About Schools in New Lenox, Illinois
New Lenox, Illinois has 14 ranked public schools covering every grade band from elementary through high school. The city-wide average score is 6.0 out of 10. Three schools — 21% of the total — score 7.0 or above, a meaningful gap that marks a clear upper tier pulling ahead of the broader field.
Lincoln-Way Central High School leads the city at 7.6, the highest score among all ranked schools here. At the elementary level, Arnold J Tyler School (7.3) and Spencer Pointe (7.2) round out the 7-plus group. The two ranked middle schools, Oster-Oakview and Alex M Martino Jr High, each sit at 6.9 — above the city average but just short of the top tier. Taken together, the five highest-rated schools form a consistent upper band from elementary through high school, which means families who stay in New Lenox through graduation can access above-average options at each level.
The broader picture is more mixed. With 11 of 14 schools scoring below 7.0, the difference between a top-tier placement and an average one is real and worth mapping before choosing a neighborhood. Elementary families within the Tyler or Spencer Pointe attendance zones start from a stronger baseline. Middle school parents have two options sitting at the same score, making that transition relatively predictable. High school is the clearest strength here — Lincoln-Way Central at 7.6 is New Lenox's highest-scoring school across all grade bands.
When comparing New Lenox against surrounding communities, anchor your analysis to the 6.0 city average and the 21% share of schools scoring 7 or above. Before committing to a neighborhood, verify which specific school your address feeds into at every grade level — in a city this size, attendance boundaries matter more than the aggregate score.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 383 students · 1st–3rd | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 344 students · 1st–3rd | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 463 students · 1st–3rd | 5.8 | ||
| 4 | 393 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | 5.0 | ||
| 5 | 129 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.8 | ||
| 6 | 380 students · 1st–3rd | 4.2 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Jude SchoolPrivate 162 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | La Petite AcademyPrivate 10 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 21 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 587 students · 7th–8th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 380 students · 4th–6th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 565 students · 7th–8th | 7.6 |
| 4 | 365 students · 4th–6th | 7.0 |
| 5 | 455 students · 4th–6th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 538 students · 4th–6th | 6.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,017 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 2,005 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 754 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 students · 2nd–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in New Lenox
New Lenox, Illinois · 19 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$132,260
Median Home Value
$373,100
Median Rent
$1,304/mo
Population
37,481
College Educated
42%
Homeownership
93%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Community Profile
New Lenox has a median household income of $132,260. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $373,100, with a median rent of $1,304/month. The local poverty rate of 2.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 3
- Other
- 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 New Lenox, Illinois
How many schools are in New Lenox, Illinois?
New Lenox has 19 schools, including 14 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in New Lenox, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in New Lenox is 6.5 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 New Lenox, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in New Lenox on MySchoolScout is Liberty Junior High School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in New Lenox, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in New Lenox on MySchoolScout is Nelson Prairie School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in New Lenox, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in New Lenox on MySchoolScout is Liberty Junior High School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in New Lenox, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in New Lenox on MySchoolScout is Lincoln-Way Central High School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
How many school districts serve New Lenox, Illinois?
New Lenox is served by 2 school districts: Lincoln Way Chsd 210, New Lenox Sd 122.
What is the education level in New Lenox, Illinois?
According to Census data, 42% of adults in New Lenox have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in New Lenox, Illinois?
The median household income in New Lenox is approximately $132,260 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in New Lenox, Illinois?
Yes, New Lenox has 5 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Jude School with a score of 5.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in New Lenox, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in New Lenox is 15.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in New Lenox, 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.