schoolsbycounty

Cook County Schools & Education

Cook County, Illinois

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

84.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,158

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#64

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cook County

Measured School Summary

Cook County has midrange measured school signals (score: 58/100) with a graduation rate of 84.1%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

With $12,158 per pupil, Cook County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% below the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 31% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cook County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

1,402 public schools and 167 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

58/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #64 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

84.1%

4.7 pts below the state average

Funding context

$12,158

$2,908 above the state average

School coverage

1,402

167 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cook County has 1,402 public schools across 167 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What Cook County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Cook County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#64

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 96% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

City of Chicago SD 299

Elementary to high school visible

321,666 students

Elementary 459Middle 11High 166Other 8

644 listed schools in this county slice.

Schaumburg CCSD 54

Elementary and middle visible

14,966 students

Elementary 22Middle 5High 0Other 1

28 listed schools in this county slice.

Township HSD 211

High school only in this slice

12,270 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 7Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Township HSD 214

High school only in this slice

12,052 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 10Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

City of Chicago SD 299 is the largest listed district slice, with 644 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cook County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cook County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Comparison context

Compare Cook County With Nearby School Markets

Cook County appears in curated regional school comparisons where parents commonly weigh county lines, housing tradeoffs, commute, and district boundaries before narrowing to individual schools.

Chicago area

Cook County vs DuPage County vs Lake County Schools

This comparison separates the broader Cook County signal from two common suburban alternatives parents often evaluate around Chicago.

Compared with

DuPage County, IL and Lake County, IL

Current leader

DuPage County, IL at 89/100

Graduation-rate leader: DuPage County, IL at 94.3%

Open regional guideOpen interactive comparison

Education Overview

About Schools in Cook County, Illinois

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Illinois' Largest Educational Infrastructure

Cook County manages a massive network of 1,402 public schools serving nearly 700,000 students. This sprawling system includes 893 elementary schools and 265 high schools across 167 distinct districts.

Chicago District and Charter Options

The City of Chicago SD 299 is the largest district, serving over 321,000 students. Cook County also offers significant choice, with 120 charter schools making up 8.6% of the total school landscape.

Urban Hubs and Massive Campuses

The locale is split between 740 city schools and 661 suburban schools, with an average size of 547 students. Premier campuses like Lane Tech and Taft High School are among the largest in the nation, each exceeding 4,400 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

1,402

in Cook County

Reported Enrollment

696,569

1346 schools reporting

School Districts

167

districts

Charter Schools

120

9% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary893
Middle151
High265
Other93

167 School Districts in Cook County

City of Chicago SD 299

Guide
644 schools
321,666 students
Open district guide

Schaumburg CCSD 54

Guide
28 schools
14,966 students
Open district guide

Township HSD 211

Guide
7 schools
12,270 students
Open district guide

Township HSD 214

Guide
10 schools
12,052 students
Open district guide

Palatine CCSD 15

Guide
20 schools
11,103 students
Open district guide

Cicero SD 99

Guide
15 schools
8,815 students
Open district guide

Barrington CUSD 220

Guide
12 schools
8,173 students
Open district guide

J S Morton HSD 201

Guide
4 schools
8,134 students
Open district guide

Cons HSD 230

Guide
3 schools
7,691 students
Open district guide

Evanston CCSD 65

Guide
17 schools
6,383 students
Open district guide

1,402 Public Schools in Cook County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 133 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 1,402 matching schools

Lane Technical High School

City of Chicago SD 299

Chicago, 60618 / City: Large

Profile7–12High4,496 students

Taft High School

City of Chicago SD 299

Chicago, 60631 / City: Large

Profile7–12High4,464 students

Lyons Twp High Sch

Lyons Twp HSD 204

La Grange, 60525 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,842 students

Evanston Twp High School

Evanston Twp HSD 202

Evanston, 60201 / City: Small

Profile9–12High3,691 students

J Sterling Morton West High Sch

J S Morton HSD 201

Berwyn, 60402 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,533 students

J Sterling Morton East High Sch

J S Morton HSD 201

Cicero, 60804 / Suburb: Large

Profile10–12High3,445 students

Oak Park & River Forest High Sch

Oak Park - River Forest SD 200

Oak Park, 60302 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,304 students

Curie Metropolitan High School

City of Chicago SD 299

Chicago, 60632 / City: Large

Profile9–12High3,178 students

Glenbrook South High School

Glenbrook HSD 225

Glenview, 60026 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,030 students

Carl Sandburg High School

Cons HSD 230

Orland Park, 60462 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,894 students

New Trier Township H S Winnetka

New Trier Twp HSD 203

Winnetka, 60093 / Suburb: Large

Profile10–12High2,856 students

Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Homewood Flossmoor CHSD 233

Flossmoor, 60422 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,798 students

Elgin High School

SD U-46

Elgin, 60120 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,750 students

Wm Fremd High School

Township HSD 211

Palatine, 60067 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,708 students

Palatine High School

Township HSD 211

Palatine, 60074 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,652 students

Niles West High School

Niles Twp HSD 219

Skokie, 60077 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,609 students

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School

Cons HSD 230

Palos Hills, 60465 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,538 students

J B Conant High School

Township HSD 211

Hoffman Estates, 60169 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,503 students

Maine South High School

Maine Township HSD 207

Park Ridge, 60068 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,495 students

Rich Township High School

Rich Twp HSD 227

Olympia Fields, 60461 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,487 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

113 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$12,158

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cook County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Illinois counties have the highest graduation rates?
Edwards County (97.0%), Hamilton County (97.0%), and Johnson County (96.3%) currently lead Illinois among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Illinois?
Across Illinois counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,250. The highest current county values are Lake County ($12,962), DuPage County ($12,349), and Jo Daviess County ($12,337). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Cook County?
Cook County has a school score of 58/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Cook County?
The high school graduation rate in Cook County is 84.1%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Cook County spend per student?
Cook County spends $12,158 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cook County, Illinois — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cook County, Illinois?

Cook County manages a massive network of 1,402 public schools serving nearly 700,000 students. This sprawling system includes 893 elementary schools and 265 high schools across 167 distinct districts.

What are the major school districts in Cook County, Illinois?

The City of Chicago SD 299 is the largest district, serving over 321,000 students. Cook County also offers significant choice, with 120 charter schools making up 8.6% of the total school landscape.

What is the school experience like in Cook County?

The locale is split between 740 city schools and 661 suburban schools, with an average size of 547 students. Premier campuses like Lane Tech and Taft High School are among the largest in the nation, each exceeding 4,400 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Bureau County

Illinois

-0 pts

58/100

School score

Massac County

Illinois

+0 pts

58/100

School score

Champaign County

Illinois

-0 pts

58/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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