Best Schools in Rockford, Illinois
61 schools · 32 Elementary · 7 Middle · 7 High · 15 Other
Choosing a school in Rockford?
Use this page to compare every school in Rockford 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.
Thurgood Marshall School
Middle · Rockford Sd 205. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Elementary · Rockford Sd 205. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Keith Country Day School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Rockford for 2026 are Thurgood Marshall School (8.7/10), Thurgood Marshall Elementary (8.5/10), and Keith Country Day School (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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
61
44 public · 17 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$124,750
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
61
44 public · 17 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$124,750
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 6.5/10 despite 89% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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 Rockford schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Rockford
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 61). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurgood Marshall School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Thurgood Marshall Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Keith Country Day School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Alpine Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Montessori Private Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | North Love Christian | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Cherry Valley Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Berean Baptist Christian School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Rockford Iqra' School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Cathedral Baptist School | 7.0 / 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
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $56,379
- Median home value
- $124,750
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Rockford compares
Illinois rank
#360 of 444
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Illinois avg (6.2)
Median household income
$56k
69% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
60
Education Snapshot
Rockford, IllinoisRockford operates 61 schools through a single district — 32 elementary, 7 middle, 7 high schools, and 15 alternative or combined campuses — serving roughly 31,331 students. The district's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 5.3/10 trails the Illinois state average of 6.2/10 by nearly a full point, a below-average standing that aligns with the city's economic context: Rockford's median household income of $60,282 sits 30% below the state median of $86,588, and only 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Three charter schools operate within the city, adding a narrow layer of school-choice options to a market otherwise defined by a single public operator. Families evaluating options here will find real variation within Rockford's 60 scored campuses — the composite average is a starting reference, not a ceiling on what individual schools achieve.
About Schools in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois has 44 ranked public schools, giving families a broad field to evaluate. The city's schools average 6.0 out of 10, which places the overall landscape in moderate territory. Performance is spread across that range, but a meaningful pocket of stronger options exists at the top end — 9 schools, or 20% of ranked schools, score 7 or higher.
Elementary options lead Rockford's strongest performers. Thurgood Marshall Elementary sits at the top of the city with a score of 7.9 out of 10, the highest in Rockford. Haskell Elementary follows closely at 7.7, and Montessori Elementary School rounds out a strong trio at 7.3. Swan Hillman Elementary and Gregory Elementary both score above 7.0 as well, giving parents in the city real choices among high-performing elementary schools. The concentration of top scores at the elementary level means families with younger children have the most options when targeting above-average schools.
The 6.0 city average signals that performance varies considerably across Rockford's public schools. With 80% of ranked schools falling below the 7-point threshold, the gap between the top tier and the broader field is real and worth factoring into any school search. Parents should pay close attention to individual school scores rather than assuming neighborhood proximity puts them near one of the stronger options.
Practically speaking, Rockford parents researching elementary placements have the clearest path to high-performing schools — five ranked elementary schools score above 7.0, and the top two, Thurgood Marshall and Haskell, are competitive by any city comparison. Families should map those schools against their address and transportation options early in the process. The 20% figure for schools scoring 7 or above is a useful benchmark: Rockford has genuine standouts, but they represent a minority of the total. Targeting those specific schools, rather than relying on the city average, is the most practical strategy for parents who prioritize academic performance.
Elementary Schools
32 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 378 students · 1st–4th | 8.5 |
| 2 | 634 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 529 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 532 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 5 | 563 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 |
| 6 | 285 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 245 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 360 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 |
| 9 | 457 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 |
| 10 | 335 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 |
Show all 32 elementary schools in Rockford
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 483 students · 5th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 794 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 3 | 366 students · 6th–8th | 3.9 |
| 4 | 705 students · 6th–8th | 3.7 |
| 5 | 1,032 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 |
| 6 | 985 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 |
| 7 | 800 students · 6th–8th | 2.9 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,161 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 55 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 1,985 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 4 | 1,708 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 5 | 2,170 students · 9th–12th | 4.4 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 653 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | Veritas Christi Hybrid Academy
Private
30 students · 5th–12th | 6.6 | ||
Other Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 231 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 2 | 475 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.1 | ||
| 3 | 460 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.7 | ||
| 4 | 483 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.7 | ||
| 5 | 497 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 | ||
| Private Schools 10 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Keith Country Day School
Private
165 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | Montessori Private Academy
Private
66 students · Pre-K–9th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | North Love Christian
Private
64 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 4 | Berean Baptist Christian School
Private
132 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 5 | Rockford Iqra' School
Private
95 students · Pre-K–10th | 7.2 | ||
Show all 15 other schools in Rockford
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Rockford
Rockford, Illinois · 61 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 8 ZIP codes
Median Income
$56,379
Median Home Value
$124,750
Median Rent
$984/mo
Population
178,528
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Community Profile
Rockford has a median household income of $56,379. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $124,750, with a median rent of $984/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.0%, 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
- 32
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 7
- Other
- 15
Resources
School District
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 Rockford, Illinois
How many schools are in Rockford, Illinois?
Rockford has 61 schools, including 44 public and 17 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Rockford, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Rockford is 5.3 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 Rockford, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Rockford on MySchoolScout is Thurgood Marshall School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Rockford, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Rockford on MySchoolScout is Thurgood Marshall Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Rockford, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Rockford on MySchoolScout is Thurgood Marshall School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Rockford, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Rockford on MySchoolScout is Rockford Boylan Catholic High School with a composite score of 6.6/10.
How many school districts serve Rockford, Illinois?
Rockford is served by 1 school district: Rockford Sd 205.
What is the education level in Rockford, Illinois?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Rockford have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Rockford, Illinois?
The median household income in Rockford is approximately $56,379 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Rockford, Illinois?
Yes, Rockford has 17 private schools alongside 44 public schools. The top-rated private school is Keith Country Day School with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Rockford, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Rockford is 16.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Rockford, 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.