Best Schools in Waukegan, Illinois

Waukegan's public school landscape spans 23 ranked schools, with performance concentrated at the lower end of the scale. The city's average school score sits at 5.2 out of 10 — a number that tells parents to look carefully rather than assume quality is evenly distributed across the district. Only 2 of those 23 schools, or 9%, reach the 7-point threshold. That concentration of high-scoring options is narrow, which means where a family ends up in the enrollment process carries real weight.

The strongest performer is LEARN John & Kathy Schreiber Charter, an elementary school scoring 7.5 out of 10 — the highest mark in the city. Carman-Buckner Elementary follows at 7.3, making these two schools the most reliable options for families with younger children. Clearview Elementary (6.9) and Greenwood Elementary (6.4) round out a cluster of above-average elementary choices. The pattern is consistent: the top of Waukegan's academic performance belongs to the elementary tier, with four of the five highest-scoring schools serving K–5 or equivalent grades.

The middle school picture is thinner. John R Lewis Middle School scores 6.4, landing in the same range as the lower-ranked elementaries and representing the only middle school in the city's top five. Parents with kids approaching those grades will want to plan ahead rather than assume the elementary momentum carries forward automatically.

Practically, Waukegan rewards intentional school selection. The 2.3-point gap between the city's top school (7.5) and the overall average (5.2) is significant. With 91% of ranked schools falling below the 7-point mark, the strong options are few and identifiable. Charter school eligibility and elementary attendance boundaries are the first things to confirm. Families new to the city should research enrollment windows early — competition for the highest-rated seats in a district this size tends to close faster than parents expect.