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Excellent

#330 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 9% in state

Lake Forest High School

High School · Lake Forest CHSD 115

1285 N McKinley Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045

Enrollment

1,375

Student-Teacher

11.1:1

Score

8.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Lake Forest

#3 of 7

public schools

Illinois high schools

#45 of 703

School environment

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Lake Forest High School

Lake Forest High School is a public high school in Lake Forest, IL, part of the Lake Forest CHSD 115. The school serves approximately 1,375 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 11.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 91.4th percentile among IL schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 71% proficiency in math and 70% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (10.0/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $225,551, where 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.7Fair25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-6 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.7Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency66%
Reading/ELA Proficiency61%
Overall Proficiency64%
Expected (poverty-adj.)49%
vs. Expected+14.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile95th
College Readiness9.5Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation41.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment10.0Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$37,271

Lake Forest High School — Students at Lake Forest High School score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 71.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 70.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 5 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
76%
ELA
82%
2021*
Math
66%
ELA
68%
2022
ELA
61%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.7/10.

How Lake Forest High School Compares

See how Lake Forest High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.2/10
91th percentile in IL
Academic
9.7/10
9.7/10
Growth
3.7/10
Below average
Environment
10.0/10
Above average

Location

1285 N McKinley Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lake Forest High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. LAKE FOREST ACADEMY (rated 9.1/10, 2.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART (rated 8.6/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, SAFE HAVEN SCHOOL (rated 6.3/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Lake Bluff), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lake Forest, see our Lake Forest schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Sheridan Elem School Lake Forest 0.2 mi 9.1
Lake Bluff Middle School Lake Bluff 0.8 mi 5.6
SCHOOL OF ST MARY Lake Forest 1.1 mi 7.0
FOREST BLUFF SCHOOL Lake Bluff 1.1 mi 6.2
Deer Path Middle Sch East Lake Forest 1.2 mi 7.1
Deer Path Middle Sch West Lake Forest 1.2 mi 5.8
Lake Bluff Elem Sch Lake Bluff 1.6 mi 9.8
LAKE FOREST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lake Forest 1.9 mi 7.7
WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART Lake Forest 2.1 mi 8.6
Cherokee Elem School Lake Forest 2.7 mi 6.3
LEARN Chtr Sch 6 N Chicago Campus Great Lakes 2.9 mi 6.6
Forrestal Elem School Great Lakes 2.9 mi 7.7
SAFE HAVEN SCHOOL Lake Bluff 2.6 mi 6.3
SCHOOL OF ST MARY UPPER GRADE CENTER Lake Forest 3.2 mi 7.1
LEARN 10 Charter School North Chicago 3.6 mi 6.4
LAKE FOREST ACADEMY Lake Forest 2.9 mi 9.1
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF LAKE FOREST Lake Forest 3.0 mi 6.4
Everett Elem School Lake Forest 3.8 mi 7.6
Wayne Thomas Elem School Highland Park 4.2 mi 9.6
Neal Math Science Academy North Chicago 4.2 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60045 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$225,551

Median Home Value

$899,200

Median Rent

$2,321/mo

Population

20,957

College Educated

81.2%

Homeownership

89.2%

Avg Commute

33.1 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

46.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Lake Forest High School has a median household income of $225,551. It is a well-educated community where 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $899,200, with a median rent of $2,321/month. The local poverty rate of 3.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Geneva Community High School Geneva, IL 8.2
Wheaton North High School Wheaton, IL 8.2
Grayslake Central High School Grayslake, IL 8.1
Grayslake North High School Grayslake, IL 8.1
Back of The Yards IB HS Chicago, IL 8.3
Lemont Twp High School Lemont, IL 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Forest High School

What grades does Lake Forest High School serve?

Lake Forest High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Lake Forest High School?

Lake Forest High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,375 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest High School is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Forest High School rank in IL?

Lake Forest High School is ranked #330 out of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Lake Forest High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Forest High School has a composite rating of 8.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Lake Forest High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Forest High School has 71.0% math proficiency and 70.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Lake Forest High School a charter school?

No, Lake Forest High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lake Forest High School a Title I school?

No, Lake Forest High School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
43 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
52 Bikeable
City Safety
Average (646/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lake Forest). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,375
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
124
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lake County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Lake Forest CHSD 115
District Enrollment
1,375
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$40,042
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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