Waukegan High School

Waukegan High School serves 4,325 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1 across its 304 full-time equivalent teaching staff. As one of Illinois's larger high schools, it ranks in the 6th percentile statewide with a MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10, indicating significant room for academic growth. The school's ELA/Reading proficiency rate of 7% across grade levels shows the substantial academic challenges facing the student community.

Located at 1011 Washington Street in Waukegan, the school draws from a diverse working-class community where the median household income is $58,843 and 16.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The surrounding neighborhood in ZIP code 60085 has a population of 71,465, with 18% of adults holding bachelor's degrees or higher and median home values around $150,700. Despite the academic performance challenges, the school's substantial size and teaching staff provide opportunities for diverse programming and support systems for its large student body.

The school operates within Lake County's large suburban setting, serving as a central educational institution for the Waukegan community's families seeking public high school education.

Waukegan High School is a large school with 4,325 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

While current test scores at Waukegan High School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.