Best Schools in Waukegan, Illinois
30 schools · 19 Elementary · 5 Middle · 2 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Waukegan?
Use this page to compare every school in Waukegan 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.
Learn John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr
Elementary · Learn John and Kathy Schreiber Ch. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School
Elementary · Waukegan Cusd 60. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
John S Clark Elem School
Elementary · Waukegan Cusd 60. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waukegan for 2026 are Learn John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr (9.3/10), Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School (9.3/10), and John S Clark Elem School (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 22 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
30
23 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$175,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
30
23 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$175,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 9.3/10 despite 71% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.7 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 Waukegan schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Waukegan schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Waukegan
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 22 rated schools; 30 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Learn John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 3 | John S Clark Elem School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Greenwood Elem School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Hyde Park Elem School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Little Fort Elem School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Washington Elem School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | H R Mccall Elem School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Glenwood Elementary School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | John R Lewis Middle School | 5.3 / 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
- 5.4/10
- Median household income
- $71,746
- Median home value
- $175,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
14% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waukegan compares
Illinois rank
#375 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$72k
88% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
29
Waukegan CUSD 60 runs Waukegan's public schools
23 public schools. Waukegan CUSD 60 is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Waukegan is a Waukegan CUSD 60 school (22 of 23).
Among 22 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.3 to 9.3 — the spread is inside Waukegan, not a citywide average.
- Waukegan CUSD 6022 public · 96%
- Learn John and Kathy Schreiber Ch1 public · 4%
About 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.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 476 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 370 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.3 |
| 3 | 240 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 4 | 312 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 270 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 368 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 |
| 8 | 378 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 |
| 9 | 588 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 |
| 10 | 485 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Waukegan
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 762 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 2 | 585 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
| 3 | 662 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
| 4 | 506 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 |
| 5 | 489 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,325 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cristo Rey St. MartinPrivate 418 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 216 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 142 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Menta Academy NorthPrivate 147 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 21 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$71,746
Median Home Value
$175,300
Median Rent
$1,214/mo
Population
100,191
College Educated
19%
Homeownership
55%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Community Profile
Waukegan has a median household income of $71,746. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $175,300, with a median rent of $1,214/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.6%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 2
- Other
- 4
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 Waukegan, Illinois
How many schools are in Waukegan, Illinois?
Waukegan has 30 schools, including 23 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waukegan, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waukegan is 5.4 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 Waukegan, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Waukegan on MySchoolScout is Learn John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waukegan, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waukegan on MySchoolScout is Learn John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Waukegan, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Waukegan on MySchoolScout is John R Lewis Middle School with a composite score of 5.3/10.
What is the best high school in Waukegan, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Waukegan on MySchoolScout is Waukegan High School with a composite score of 4.1/10.
How many school districts serve Waukegan, Illinois?
Waukegan is served by 2 school districts: Learn John and Kathy Schreiber Ch, Waukegan Cusd 60.
What is the education level in Waukegan, Illinois?
According to Census data, 19% of adults in Waukegan have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waukegan, Illinois?
The median household income in Waukegan is approximately $71,746 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waukegan, Illinois?
Yes, Waukegan has 7 private schools alongside 23 public schools. The top-rated private school is Lake County Christian Academy with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waukegan, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waukegan is 15.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waukegan, 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.