Can I use McHenry County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the McHenry County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in McHenry County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in McHenry County?

Start with the 88 listed public schools and 21 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

McHenry County Schools & Education

Name: McHenry County, Illinois Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

McHenry County, Illinois

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

School Score

84/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

93.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,347

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

84/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: McHenry County

Measured School Summary

McHenry County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 84/100 and a graduation rate of 93.5%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

McHenry County spends $10,347 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 33% above the Illinois average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read McHenry 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

88 public schools and 21 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

84/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #8 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

93.5%

4.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,347

$1,097 above the state average

School coverage

21 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

McHenry County has 88 public schools across 21 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 Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What McHenry 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

McHenry 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

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 21 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% 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.

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Elementary to high school visible

8,595 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 1Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

Crystal Lake CCSD 47

Elementary and middle visible

7,109 students

Elementary 9Middle 3High 0Other 1

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Woodstock CUSD 200

Elementary to high school visible

6,159 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 2Other 1

12 listed schools in this county slice.

CHSD 155

High school only in this slice

5,405 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 5Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

CUSD 300 is the largest listed district slice, with 29 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 McHenry County?

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

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

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in McHenry 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.

A Massive Infrastructure Serving 50,000+ Students

McHenry County operates a vast network of 88 public schools across 21 districts, serving 50,616 students. This extensive system includes 50 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 16 high schools.

Dynamic Suburban Campuses and Large High Schools

With 58 schools in suburban areas, the county offers a modern, high-energy educational environment. Average school size is 610, but Huntley High School is a standout with 2,926 students enrolled.

School Overview

Total Schools

in McHenry County

Reported Enrollment

50,616

88 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary50

Middle18

High16

Other4

21 School Districts in McHenry County

CUSD 300

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Crystal Lake CCSD 47

Woodstock CUSD 200

CHSD 155

Wauconda CUSD 118

McHenry CCSD 15

Harvard CUSD 50

5 schools

2,510 students

Cary CCSD 26

5 schools

2,302 students

McHenry CHSD 156

1 school

2,222 students

88 Public Schools in McHenry County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 10 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 88 matching schools

Public schools in McHenry County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Huntley High School	Profile	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158	Huntley, 60142Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,926
McHenry Community High School	Profile	McHenry CHSD 156	Mchenry, 60050Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,222
Harry D Jacobs High School	Profile	CUSD 300	Algonquin, 60102Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,080
Cary-Grove Community High School	Profile	CHSD 155	Cary, 60013Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,494
Crystal Lake Central High School	Profile	CHSD 155	Crystal Lake, 60014Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,470
Crystal Lake South High School	Profile	CHSD 155	Crystal Lake, 60014Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,301
Marlowe Middle School	Profile	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158	Lake in the Hills, 60156Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,191
Prairie Ridge High School	Profile	CHSD 155	Crystal Lake, 60012Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,140
Woodstock High School	Profile	Woodstock CUSD 200	Woodstock, 60098Town: Fringe	9–12	High	1,021
Woodstock North High School	Profile	Woodstock CUSD 200	Woodstock, 60098Rural: Fringe	8–12	High	943
Leggee Elementary School	Record	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158	Huntley, 60142Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	907
Hannah Beardsley Middle School	Record	Crystal Lake CCSD 47	Crystal Lake, 60014Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	847
Lundahl Middle School	Record	Crystal Lake CCSD 47	Crystal Lake, 60014Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	821
Harvard High School	Record	Harvard CUSD 50	Harvard, 60033Town: Distant	9–12	High	816
Martin Elementary School	Record	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158	Lake in the Hills, 60156Suburb: Large	3–5	Primary	797
Richard F Bernotas Middle Sch	Record	Crystal Lake CCSD 47	Crystal Lake, 60014Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	779
Heineman Middle School	Record	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158	Algonquin, 60102Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	751
Creekside Middle School	Record	Woodstock CUSD 200	Woodstock, 60098Town: Fringe	5–8	Middle	728
Chesak Elementary School	Record	Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158	Lake in the Hills, 60156Suburb: Large	KG–2	Primary	716
Verda Dierzen Early Learning Ctr	Record	Woodstock CUSD 200	Woodstock, 60098Town: Fringe	2	Primary	701

Huntley High School

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Huntley, 60142 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,926 students

McHenry Community High School

McHenry CHSD 156

Mchenry, 60050 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,222 students

Harry D Jacobs High School

CUSD 300

Algonquin, 60102 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,080 students

Cary-Grove Community High School

CHSD 155

Cary, 60013 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,494 students

Crystal Lake Central High School

CHSD 155

Crystal Lake, 60014 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,470 students

Crystal Lake South High School

CHSD 155

Crystal Lake, 60014 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,301 students

Marlowe Middle School

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Lake in the Hills, 60156 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,191 students

Prairie Ridge High School

CHSD 155

Crystal Lake, 60012 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,140 students

Woodstock High School

Woodstock CUSD 200

Woodstock, 60098 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,021 students

Woodstock North High School

Woodstock CUSD 200

Woodstock, 60098 / Rural: Fringe

Profile8–12High943 students

Leggee Elementary School

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Huntley, 60142 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary907 students

Hannah Beardsley Middle School

Crystal Lake CCSD 47

Crystal Lake, 60014 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle847 students

Lundahl Middle School

Crystal Lake CCSD 47

Crystal Lake, 60014 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle821 students

Harvard High School

Harvard CUSD 50

Harvard, 60033 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High816 students

Martin Elementary School

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Lake in the Hills, 60156 / Suburb: Large

Record3–5Primary797 students

Richard F Bernotas Middle Sch

Crystal Lake CCSD 47

Crystal Lake, 60014 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle779 students

Heineman Middle School

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Algonquin, 60102 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle751 students

Creekside Middle School

Woodstock CUSD 200

Woodstock, 60098 / Town: Fringe

Record5–8Middle728 students

Chesak Elementary School

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158

Lake in the Hills, 60156 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–2Primary716 students

Verda Dierzen Early Learning Ctr

Woodstock CUSD 200

Woodstock, 60098 / Town: Fringe

Record2Primary701 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,347

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review McHenry 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 McHenry County?

McHenry County has a school score of 84/100, which is a higher 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 McHenry County?

The high school graduation rate in McHenry County is 93.5%, which is above 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 McHenry County spend per student?

McHenry County spends $10,347 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 McHenry County, Illinois — FAQ

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

McHenry County operates a vast network of 88 public schools across 21 districts, serving 50,616 students. This extensive system includes 50 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 16 high schools.

What is the school experience like in McHenry County?

With 58 schools in suburban areas, the county offers a modern, high-energy educational environment. Average school size is 610, but Huntley High School is a standout with 2,926 students enrolled.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Brown County

Illinois

+0 pts

84/100

School score

Ogle County

Illinois

-1 pts

83/100

School score

Hamilton County

Illinois

-1 pts

82/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

Explore more data for McHenry County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score