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McHenry County

Illinois · Public K-12

Public-school families in McHenry County pick from 89 schools serving the county's roughly 50,123 K-12 students, with a mix of 53 elementary, 18 middle, and 16 high.

7-year change in McHenry County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
50,123
-4,088 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
83
-2 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
64%
was 71%
% Hispanic
27%
was 21%
% Black
3%
was 2%
% Asian
3%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
312,591
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
89
22 districts
Enrollment
50,123
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$104,802
Above Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.3%
Below Illinois avg
Elementary
53
22,908 students
Middle
18
10,400 students
High
16
16,815 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158
8,401 students · 22 districts in McHenry County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of McHenry County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
80%
Hispanic
16%
Black
2%
Asian
3%
Two or more
11%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
64%
Hispanic
27%
Black
3%
Asian
3%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
35.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.7% under 18

Test scores in McHenry County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 62 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.

See all 62 schools in McHenry County ranked by score →

All schools (89)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Huntley High SchoolHuntleyHigh09-122,804·
McHenry Community High SchoolMchenryHigh09-122,214·
Harry D Jacobs High SchoolAlgonquinHigh09-122,056·
Crystal Lake Central High SchoolCrystal LakeHigh09-121,443·
Cary-Grove Community High SchoolCaryHigh09-121,348·
Crystal Lake South High SchoolCrystal LakeHigh09-121,279·
Marlowe Middle SchoolLake In The HillsMiddle06-081,215·
Prairie Ridge High SchoolCrystal LakeHigh09-121,133·
Woodstock High SchoolWoodstockHigh09-12988·
Woodstock North High SchoolWoodstockHigh08-12915·
Leggee Elementary SchoolHuntleyElementaryKG-05877·
Hannah Beardsley Middle SchoolCrystal LakeMiddle06-08829·
Harvard High SchoolHarvardHigh09-12815·
Lundahl Middle SchoolCrystal LakeMiddle06-08797·
Martin Elementary SchoolLake In The HillsElementary03-05776·
Cary Jr High SchoolCaryMiddle06-08761·
Richard F Bernotas Middle SchCrystal LakeMiddle06-08737·
Creekside Middle SchoolWoodstockMiddle05-08736·
Heineman Middle SchoolAlgonquinMiddle06-08724·
McHenry Middle SchoolMchenryMiddle06-08695·
Marengo High SchoolMarengoHigh09-12685·
Verda Dierzen Early Learning CtrWoodstockElementaryPK-02675·
Crosby Elem SchHarvardElementaryKG-03655·
Parkland SchoolMchenryMiddle06-08645·
Chesak Elementary SchoolLake In The HillsElementaryKG-02643·
North Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05638·
Coventry Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05629·
Riverwood Elementary SchoolMchenryElementaryKG-05619·
Conley Elementary SchoolAlgonquinElementary03-05598·
Harvard Jr High SchoolHarvardMiddle06-08593·
Cotton Creek SchoolIsland LakeElementaryPK-05580·
Northwood Middle SchoolWoodstockMiddle06-08576·
Prairie Grove Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryPK-04552·
Valley View Elem SchoolMchenryElementaryKG-05526·
Mackeben Elementary SchoolAlgonquinElementaryKG-02522·
Richmond-Burton High SchoolRichmondHigh09-12521·
West Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05520·
Husmann Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05518·
Johnsburg High SchoolJohnsburgHigh09-12502·
Lake in the Hills Elem SchoolLk In The HlsElementaryKG-05502·
Locust Elem SchoolMarengoElementaryPK-03501·
Indian Prairie Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryPK-05496·
Edgebrook Elem SchoolMchenryElementaryPK-03494·
Woods Creek Elementary SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05489·
Canterbury Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05486·
Lincoln Prairie Elem SchoolLake In The HillsElementaryPK-05479·
Deer Path Elem SchoolCaryElementaryKG-05452·
Harrison Elem SchoolWonder LakeElementaryPK-08447·
Kenneth E Neubert Elem SchoolAlgonquinElementaryKG-05445·
Three Oaks SchoolCaryElementaryKG-05443·
Chauncey H Duker SchoolMchenryElementary04-05433·
Mary Endres Elementary SchoolWoodstockElementary01-05431·
Olson Elementary SchoolWoodstockElementaryKG-05425·
Hilltop Elem SchoolMchenryElementaryKG-03424·
Ringwood School Primary CtrRingwoodElementaryPK-02420·
Richmond Grade SchoolRichmondElementaryPK-05407·
Eastview Elem SchoolAlgonquinElementaryPK-05401·
Briargate Elem SchoolCaryElementary01-05400·
South Elem SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryKG-05390·
Johnsburg Elementary SchoolJohnsburgElementary03-05386·
Westwood Elem SchoolWoodstockElementary01-05385·
Nippersink Middle SchoolRichmondMiddle06-08377·
Prairiewood Elem SchWoodstockElementary01-05374·
Johnsburg Jr High SchoolJohnsburgMiddle06-08373·
Algonquin Middle SchoolAlgonquinMiddle06-08370·
Glacier Ridge Elementary SchoolCrystal LakeElementaryPK-05360·
Prairie Grove Junior High SchoolCrystal LakeMiddle05-08357·
Marengo Comm Middle SchoolMarengoMiddle06-08342·
Spring Grove Elementary SchoolSpring GroveElementaryPK-05327·
Jefferson Elem SchoolHarvardElementary04-05319·
Oak Knoll Early Childhood CenterCaryElementaryPK-KG316·
Dean Street Elem SchoolWoodstockElementaryPK-05302·
Greenwood Elem SchoolWoodstockElementaryPK-05290·
Riley Comm Cons SchoolMarengoElementaryKG-08277·
Ulysses S Grant Intermediate SchMarengoElementary04-05249·
District 158 Early Childhood CtrLk In The HlsElementaryPK-PK242·
Algonquin Road Elem SchoolFox River GroveElementaryPK-04239·
Alden Hebron Elem SchoolHebronElementaryPK-05210·
Landmark Elem SchoolMchenryElementaryKG-05189·
Fox River Grove Middle SchoolFox River GroveMiddle05-08174·
Washington Elem SchoolHarvardElementaryPK-PK150·
Alden-Hebron High SchoolHebronHigh09-12112·
Alden-Hebron Middle SchoolHebronMiddle06-0899·
Clay AcademyWoodstockCombinedPK-120·
Evergreen AcademyMchenryHigh06-120·
Glacier Ridge PrekCrystal LakeElementaryPK-PK0·
Haber Oaks CampusCrystal LakeHigh09-120·
Innovation AcademyMchenryCombined04-120·
Success Academy 4-5AlgonquinElementary04-050·

Cities in McHenry County

Crystal Lake19 schoolsWoodstock12 schoolsAlgonquin8 schoolsCary6 schoolsMchenry6 schoolsHarvard5 schoolsMarengo5 schoolsMchenry5 schoolsHebron3 schoolsJohnsburg3 schoolsLake In The Hills3 schoolsRichmond3 schoolsFox River Grove2 schoolsHuntley2 schoolsLk In The Hls2 schoolsIsland Lake1 schoolLake In The Hills1 schoolRingwood1 schoolSpring Grove1 schoolWonder Lake1 school

About McHenry County

Across the sizable Illinois county of McHenry County of about 312,591 residents, the public-school footprint covers 89 schools and about 50,123 students.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $104,802, roughly 35% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 49% above the Illinois median.

On the school-mix side, McHenry County covers 53 elementary schools (22,908 students), 18 middle schools (10,400), 16 high schools (16,815), and 2 combined or other schools.

Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 8,401 students across McHenry County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 8%: 54,211 students in SY 2017-18 versus 50,123 in SY 2024-25. McHenry County now counts 83 public schools, down from 85 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 71% to 64%.

On allk12, the community for McHenry County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve McHenry County?
There are 89 public K-12 schools in McHenry County, Illinois, with a combined enrollment of about 50,123.
How many high schools are in McHenry County?
McHenry County, Illinois has 16 public high schools, serving approximately 16,815 students.
How many middle schools are in McHenry County?
McHenry County, Illinois has 18 public middle schools, serving approximately 10,400 students.
How many elementary schools are in McHenry County?
McHenry County, Illinois has 53 public elementary schools, serving approximately 22,908 students.
What is the largest school district in McHenry County?
Huntley Comm Sch Dist 158 is the largest school district in McHenry County, serving approximately 8,401 students. The county contains 22 school districts overall.
How many people live in McHenry County?
McHenry County has roughly 312,591 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in McHenry County?
Median household income in McHenry County is $104,802, above the Illinois average of $70,291. About 4.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of McHenry County?
Approximately 35.2% of adults 25 and older in McHenry County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in McHenry County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 35.3% of students in McHenry County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Illinois county average of 51.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in McHenry County schools?
Across McHenry County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.9 to 1.

McHenry County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data