State district guide

Illinois public school districts

Compare district systems across Illinois by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

View county rankings Find a school

Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Illinois, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

City of Chicago SD 299

321,666 reported students

Check county context

DuPage County

89/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Illinois

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

962 districts in state file

Illinois public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	City of Chicago SD 299 LEA ID 1709930 Cook County644 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	321,666	644	Elementary, middle, and high school records 111 charter Open district guide
2	SD U-46 LEA ID 1713710 DuPage County58 schools	DuPage County 89/100 county score	35,082	58	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
3	Rockford SD 205 LEA ID 1734510 Winnebago County45 schools	Winnebago County 45/100 county score	27,442	45	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter Open district guide
4	Indian Prairie CUSD 204 LEA ID 1741690 DuPage County33 schools	DuPage County 89/100 county score	25,687	33	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
5	Plainfield SD 202 LEA ID 1731740 Will County31 schools	Will County 75/100 county score	24,856	31	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
6	CUSD 300 LEA ID 1708550 McHenry County29 schools	McHenry County 84/100 county score	20,443	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
7	CUSD 308 LEA ID 1730270 Kendall County22 schools	Kendall County 81/100 county score	16,940	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
8	Naperville CUSD 203 LEA ID 1727710 DuPage County22 schools	DuPage County 89/100 county score	16,073	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
9	Valley View CUSD 365U LEA ID 1740070 Will County20 schools	Will County 75/100 county score	15,187	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
10	Schaumburg CCSD 54 LEA ID 1734740 Cook County28 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	14,966	28	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
11	Waukegan CUSD 60 LEA ID 1741250 Lake County22 schools	Lake County 76/100 county score	13,679	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
12	Springfield SD 186 LEA ID 1737080 Sangamon County35 schools	Sangamon County 48/100 county score	13,066	35	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
13	Peoria SD 150 LEA ID 1731230 Peoria County32 schools	Peoria County 47/100 county score	12,674	32	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
14	Aurora East USD 131 LEA ID 1704680 Kane County20 schools	Kane County 60/100 county score	12,619	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
15	McLean County USD 5 LEA ID 1728620 McLean County26 schools	McLean County 76/100 county score	12,409	26	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
16	Township HSD 211 LEA ID 1730450 Cook County7 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	12,270	7	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
17	Township HSD 214 LEA ID 1704170 Cook County10 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	12,052	10	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
18	St Charles CUSD 303 LEA ID 1737170 Kane County18 schools	Kane County 60/100 county score	11,801	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
19	CUSD 200 LEA ID 1742180 DuPage County20 schools	DuPage County 89/100 county score	11,638	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
20	Aurora West USD 129 LEA ID 1704710 Kane County17 schools	Kane County 60/100 county score	11,211	17	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	Palatine CCSD 15 LEA ID 1730420 Cook County20 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	11,103	20	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
22	Champaign CUSD 4 LEA ID 1709420 Champaign County20 schools	Champaign County 58/100 county score	10,282	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
23	Joliet PSD 86 LEA ID 1720580 Will County22 schools	Will County 75/100 county score	9,553	22	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
24	Cicero SD 99 LEA ID 1710200 Cook County15 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	8,815	15	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158 LEA ID 1719830 McHenry County9 schools	McHenry County 84/100 county score	8,595	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	Elmhurst SD 205 LEA ID 1713970 DuPage County13 schools	DuPage County 89/100 county score	8,299	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
27	Barrington CUSD 220 LEA ID 1705050 Cook County12 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	8,173	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
28	J S Morton HSD 201 LEA ID 1726880 Cook County4 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	8,134	4	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
29	Decatur SD 61 LEA ID 1711850 Macon County17 schools	Macon County 36/100 county score	7,974	17	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
30	Glenbard Twp HSD 87 LEA ID 1716830 DuPage County4 schools	DuPage County 89/100 county score	7,836	4	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
31	Cons HSD 230 LEA ID 1708400 Cook County3 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	7,691	3	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	Belvidere CUSD 100 LEA ID 1705790 Boone County11 schools	Boone County 80/100 county score	7,558	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
33	Edwardsville CUSD 7 LEA ID 1713530 Madison County15 schools	Madison County 46/100 county score	7,274	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
34	Moline-Coal Valley CUSD 40 LEA ID 1726400 Rock Island County15 schools	Rock Island County 63/100 county score	7,185	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	Crystal Lake CCSD 47 LEA ID 1711350 McHenry County13 schools	McHenry County 84/100 county score	7,109	13	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
36	Yorkville CUSD 115 LEA ID 1743960 Kendall County10 schools	Kendall County 81/100 county score	6,937	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
37	Joliet Twp HSD 204 LEA ID 1720610 Will County4 schools	Will County 75/100 county score	6,918	4	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
38	DeKalb CUSD 428 LEA ID 1712000 DeKalb County12 schools	DeKalb County 66/100 county score	6,840	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
39	Lincoln Way CHSD 210 LEA ID 1723070 Will County3 schools	Will County 75/100 county score	6,705	3	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
40	Evanston CCSD 65 LEA ID 1714460 Cook County17 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	6,383	17	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
41	Quincy SD 172 LEA ID 1733000 Adams County9 schools	Adams County 54/100 county score	6,345	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
42	Round Lake CUSD 116 LEA ID 1734990 Lake County11 schools	Lake County 76/100 county score	6,330	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
43	Rock Island SD 41 LEA ID 1734410 Rock Island County14 schools	Rock Island County 63/100 county score	6,204	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
44	Maine Township HSD 207 LEA ID 1724090 Cook County4 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	6,183	4	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
45	Harlem UD 122 LEA ID 1718240 Winnebago County11 schools	Winnebago County 45/100 county score	6,178	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
46	Woodstock CUSD 200 LEA ID 1743330 McHenry County12 schools	McHenry County 84/100 county score	6,159	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
47	Collinsville CUSD 10 LEA ID 1710650 St. Clair County12 schools	St. Clair County 61/100 county score	6,140	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
48	Wheeling CCSD 21 LEA ID 1742210 Cook County13 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	6,001	13	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
49	Granite City CUSD 9 LEA ID 1717280 Madison County9 schools	Madison County 46/100 county score	5,817	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
50	Alton CUSD 11 LEA ID 1703600 Madison County10 schools	Madison County 46/100 county score	5,752	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
51	Comm Cons SD 59 LEA ID 1713770 Cook County15 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	5,707	15	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
52	Lake Zurich CUSD 95 LEA ID 1721900 Lake County8 schools	Lake County 76/100 county score	5,626	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
53	Oak Park ESD 97 LEA ID 1729250 Cook County10 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	5,546	10	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
54	CHSD 218 LEA ID 1706540 Cook County4 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	5,490	4	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
55	CHSD 155 LEA ID 1711370 McHenry County5 schools	McHenry County 84/100 county score	5,405	5	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
56	Arlington Heights SD 25 LEA ID 1704140 Cook County9 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	5,316	9	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
57	Bremen CHSD 228 LEA ID 1707050 Cook County5 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	5,270	5	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
58	Batavia USD 101 LEA ID 1705220 Kane County8 schools	Kane County 60/100 county score	5,260	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
59	Orland SD 135 LEA ID 1730220 Cook County10 schools	Cook County 58/100 county score	5,213	10	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
60	Geneva CUSD 304 LEA ID 1716380 Kane County10 schools	Kane County 60/100 county score	5,119	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois School Districts

What are the best school districts in Illinois?

City of Chicago SD 299, SD U-46, Rockford SD 205 are the largest Illinois district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Illinois districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 122 Illinois districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Illinois?

This page includes 962 Illinois public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

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.

Back to Illinois county rankings Back to all states