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

No. Use the Winnebago 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 Winnebago 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 Winnebago County?

Start with the 91 listed public schools and 13 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Winnebago County Schools & Education

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

Winnebago County, Illinois

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

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

73.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

73.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,148

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#92

of 102 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Winnebago County

Measured School Summary

Winnebago County has midrange measured school signals (score: 45/100) with a graduation rate of 73.9%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Winnebago County spends $10,148 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 28% below the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 14.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Winnebago 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

91 public schools and 13 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

45/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #92 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.

Completion

73.9%

14.9 pts below the state average

Funding context

$10,148

$898 above the state average

School coverage

13 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

Winnebago County has 91 public schools across 13 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 Winnebago 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

Winnebago 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

#92

of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is 18 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.

Rockford SD 205

Elementary to high school visible

27,442 students

Elementary 27Middle 7High 6Other 5

45 listed schools in this county slice.

Harlem UD 122

Elementary to high school visible

6,178 students

Elementary 9Middle 1High 1Other 0

11 listed schools in this county slice.

Hononegah CHD 207

High school only in this slice

1,891 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Kinnikinnick CCSD 131

Elementary and middle visible

1,724 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 0Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Rockford SD 205 is the largest listed district slice, with 45 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 Winnebago County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Winnebago 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?

Education Overview

About Schools in Winnebago 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.

Winnebago County’s Extensive School Network

Winnebago County operates 91 public schools, including 49 elementary and 16 high schools, across 13 districts. This large system serves 43,310 students, primarily in urban and suburban areas.

Rockford SD 205 and Charter Options

Rockford SD 205 is the largest district, serving 27,442 students across 45 schools. The county is home to three charter schools, which represent 3.3% of the total school landscape.

Large Urban and Suburban High Schools

Forty schools are located in city settings, and the average school size is a substantial 535 students. Jefferson High School and Guilford High School are the largest, both serving over 2,000 students each.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Winnebago County

Reported Enrollment

43,310

87 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

3% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary49

Middle16

High16

Other10

13 School Districts in Winnebago County

Rockford SD 205

Harlem UD 122

Hononegah CHD 207

1 school

1,891 students

Kinnikinnick CCSD 131

4 schools

1,724 students

Rockton SD 140

3 schools

1,602 students

Winnebago CUSD 323

4 schools

1,287 students

County of Winnebago SD 320

5 schools

903 students

Pecatonica CUSD 321

3 schools

897 students

Prairie Hill CCSD 133

2 schools

773 students

Durand CUSD 322

4 schools

508 students

91 Public Schools in Winnebago County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 9 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

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Showing 20 of 91 matching schools

Public schools in Winnebago County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Jefferson High School	Profile	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61109City: Midsize	9–12	High	2,114
Guilford High School	Profile	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61114City: Midsize	9–12	High	2,071
Auburn High School	Profile	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61101City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,936
Hononegah CHD High School	Profile	Hononegah CHD 207	Rockton, 61072Suburb: Small	9–12	High	1,891
Harlem High School	Profile	Harlem UD 122	Machesney Park, 61115Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,875
Rockford East High School	Profile	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61108City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,718
Rockford Envrnmntl Science Acad	Profile	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61102City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,051
Eisenhower Middle School	Profile	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61107City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	961
Harlem Middle School	Profile	Harlem UD 122	Loves Park, 61111Suburb: Large	7–8	Middle	957
West Middle School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61103City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	849
Bernard W Flinn Middle School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61108City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	830
Abraham Lincoln Middle School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61104City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	699
Cherry Valley Elementary School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61109Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	639
Whitehead Elem School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61108City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	638
Barbour Two-Way Lang Immersion	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61102City: Midsize	KG–8	Primary	636
Montessori Elementary School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61107Suburb: Large	PK–8	Primary	610
Roscoe Middle School	Record	Kinnikinnick CCSD 131	Roscoe, 61073Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	577
Constance Lane Elementary School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61104City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	573
Riverdahl Elem School	Record	Rockford SD 205	Rockford, 61109City: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	561
Donald C Parker Early Educ Center	Record	Harlem UD 122	Machesney Park, 61115Suburb: Large	PK–KG	Primary	553

Jefferson High School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61109 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,114 students

Guilford High School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61114 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,071 students

Auburn High School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61101 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,936 students

Hononegah CHD High School

Hononegah CHD 207

Rockton, 61072 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High1,891 students

Harlem High School

Harlem UD 122

Machesney Park, 61115 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,875 students

Rockford East High School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61108 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,718 students

Rockford Envrnmntl Science Acad

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61102 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,051 students

Eisenhower Middle School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61107 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle961 students

Harlem Middle School

Harlem UD 122

Loves Park, 61111 / Suburb: Large

Profile7–8Middle957 students

West Middle School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61103 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle849 students

Bernard W Flinn Middle School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61108 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle830 students

Abraham Lincoln Middle School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61104 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle699 students

Cherry Valley Elementary School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61109 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary639 students

Whitehead Elem School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61108 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary638 students

Barbour Two-Way Lang Immersion

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61102 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–8Primary636 students

Montessori Elementary School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61107 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–8Primary610 students

Roscoe Middle School

Kinnikinnick CCSD 131

Roscoe, 61073 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle577 students

Constance Lane Elementary School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61104 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary573 students

Riverdahl Elem School

Rockford SD 205

Rockford, 61109 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary561 students

Donald C Parker Early Educ Center

Harlem UD 122

Machesney Park, 61115 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–KGPrimary553 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,148

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Winnebago 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 Winnebago County?

Winnebago County has a school score of 45/100, 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 Winnebago County?

The high school graduation rate in Winnebago County is 73.9%, 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 Winnebago County spend per student?

Winnebago County spends $10,148 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 Winnebago County, Illinois — FAQ

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

Winnebago County operates 91 public schools, including 49 elementary and 16 high schools, across 13 districts. This large system serves 43,310 students, primarily in urban and suburban areas.

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

Rockford SD 205 is the largest district, serving 27,442 students across 45 schools. The county is home to three charter schools, which represent 3.3% of the total school landscape.

What is the school experience like in Winnebago County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Stephenson County

Illinois

-0 pts

45/100

School score

Hancock County

Illinois

-0 pts

45/100

School score

Madison County

Illinois

+1 pts

46/100

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.

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