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Winnebago County

Illinois · Public K-12

Winnebago County, Illinois operates 94 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 44,103 students (about 469 per campus). By level, that breaks down as 57 elementary, 16 middle, and 17 high schools.

7-year change in Winnebago County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
44,103
-733 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
81
-10 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
41%
was 48%
% Hispanic
27%
was 21%
% Black
22%
was 21%
% Asian
3%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
283,292
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
94
13 districts
Enrollment
44,103
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$65,837
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
61.4%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
57
22,101 students
Middle
16
9,020 students
High
17
12,982 students
Combined / other
4
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Rockford SD 205
28,467 students · 13 districts in Winnebago County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Winnebago 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
66%
Hispanic
16%
Black
12%
Asian
3%
Two or more
12%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
41%
Hispanic
26%
Black
22%
Asian
3%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
25.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.5% under 18

Test scores in Winnebago County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 61 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.

See all 61 schools in Winnebago County ranked by score →

All schools (94)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Guilford High SchoolRockfordHigh09-122,216·
Jefferson High SchoolRockfordHigh09-122,173·
Auburn High SchoolRockfordHigh09-121,957·
Harlem High SchoolMachesney ParkHigh09-121,884·
Hononegah CHD High SchoolRocktonHigh09-121,814·
Rockford East High SchoolRockfordHigh09-121,719·
Harlem Middle SchoolLoves ParkMiddle06-081,330·
Rockford Envrnmntl Science AcadRockfordMiddle06-081,108·
Eisenhower Middle SchoolRockfordMiddle06-08963·
Bernard W Flinn Middle SchoolRockfordMiddle06-08807·
West Middle SchoolRockfordMiddle06-08793·
Abraham Lincoln Middle SchoolRockfordMiddle06-08736·
Whitehead Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05678·
Cherry Valley Elementary SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05676·
Montessori Elementary SchoolRockfordElementaryPK-08660·
Barbour Two-Way Lang ImmersionRockfordElementaryKG-08628·
Constance Lane Elementary SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05623·
Roscoe Middle SchoolRoscoeMiddle06-08596·
Swan Hillman Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05581·
Donald C Parker Early Educ CenterMachesney ParkElementaryPK-KG571·
Stephen Mack Middle SchoolRocktonMiddle06-08552·
Fairview Early Childhood CenterRockfordElementaryPK-PK538·
Riverdahl Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05535·
Wm Nashold Early Childhood CenterRockfordElementaryPK-PK530·
Spring Creek Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05523·
Washington Elementary SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05523·
West View Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05521·
Rockton Elem SchoolRocktonElementaryPK-02518·
Thurgood Marshall SchoolRockfordMiddle05-08514·
Whitman Post Elem SchoolRocktonElementary03-05509·
Rolling GreenRockfordElementaryKG-05505·
Beyer Early Childhood CenterRockfordElementaryPK-PK497·
Brookview Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05484·
R K Welsh Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05483·
Summerdale Early Childhood CenterRockfordElementaryPK-PK460·
Ellis Elementary SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05457·
Prairie Hill Elem SchoolSouth BeloitElementaryPK-04447·
Arthur Froberg Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05426·
C Henry Bloom Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05426·
Maud E Johnson Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05425·
Winnebago High SchoolWinnebagoHigh09-12422·
Gregory Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05418·
McIntosh ElementaryRockfordElementaryKG-05398·
Kennedy Middle SchoolRockfordMiddle06-08393·
Clifford P Carlson Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05390·
Galapagos Rockford Charter SchRockfordElementaryKG-08384·
Lewis Lemon ElementaryRockfordElementaryKG-05378·
Ledgewood Elem SchoolRoscoeElementaryPK-01375·
Thurgood Marshall ElementaryRockfordElementary01-04374·
Conklin Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-06372·
Machesney Elem SchoolMachesney ParkElementary01-05361·
Stone Creek SchoolRoscoeElementary02-03360·
Julia Lathrop Elem SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05357·
Kinnikinnick SchoolRoscoeElementary04-05350·
Willowbrook Middle SchoolSouth BeloitMiddle05-08348·
Windsor Elem SchoolLoves ParkElementary01-05315·
Maple Elem SchoolLoves ParkElementary01-05313·
Pecatonica High SchoolPecatonicaHigh09-12313·
Pecatonica Elem SchoolPecatonicaElementaryPK-04307·
Haskell Elementary SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05301·
Dorothy Simon Elem SchoolWinnebagoElementaryPK-02297·
Winnebago Middle SchoolWinnebagoMiddle06-08296·
Olson Park Elem SchoolMachesney ParkElementary01-05294·
Durand Elem SchoolDurandElementaryPK-06281·
Loves Park Elem SchoolLoves ParkElementary01-05279·
Pecatonica Comm Middle SchoolPecatonicaMiddle05-08269·
Marquette Elem SchoolMachesney ParkElementary01-03268·
Rock Cut Elem SchoolLoves ParkElementary01-05261·
South Beloit Sr High SchoolSouth BeloitHigh09-12254·
Jean McNair Elementary SchoolWinnebagoElementary03-05252·
Jackson Charter SchoolRockfordElementaryKG-05243·
Legacy Acad of Excellence CharterRockfordElementaryKG-08234·
Ralston Elem SchoolMachesney ParkElementary01-05232·
Riverview Elementary SchoolSouth BeloitElementary02-04199·
Clark Elementary SchoolSouth BeloitElementaryPK-01185·
Durand High SchoolDurandHigh09-12170·
Blackhawk Elementary SchoolSouth BeloitMiddle05-06139·
South Beloit Jr High SchoolSouth BeloitMiddle07-08118·
Shirland C C SchoolShirlandElementaryKG-0899·
Roosevelt CenterRockfordHigh09-1260·
Durand Jr High SchoolDurandMiddle07-0858·
Career Educ Assoc of N Central ILLoves ParkHigh11-120·
College and Career Education CentRockfordHigh09-120·
Dolan Ctr Maryville Farm CampusDurandCombinedKG-120·
ROE 4 Student Support ALOPLoves ParkCombined04-120·
Summit Academy ALOPMachesney PkHigh09-120·
Summit Academy RSSPMachesney PkHigh06-120·
Summit Academy TAOEPMachesney PkHigh06-120·
Winnebago Co Detention CenterRockfordHigh06-120·
SELF AcademyRocktonElementaryM-M··
WCSEC-Intermediate Instruc PrgrmRocktonElementaryM-M··
WCSEC-Primary Instructional PrgrmRocktonElementaryM-M··
WCSEC-Soc Emotnl Learn Found-ElemRocktonCombinedM-M··
WCSEC-Soc Emtlnl Learn Found-MS PRoscoeCombinedM-M··

Cities in Winnebago County

Rockford46 schoolsRockton8 schoolsLoves Park7 schoolsSouth Beloit7 schoolsMachesney Park6 schoolsRoscoe5 schoolsDurand4 schoolsWinnebago4 schoolsMachesney Pk3 schoolsPecatonica3 schoolsShirland1 school

About Winnebago County

Winnebago County is an expansive Illinois county of about 283,292 residents, home to 94 public schools and roughly 44,103 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $65,837, 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 11%. That income level is 6% noticeably below the Illinois median.

On the school-mix side, Winnebago County spans 57 elementary schools (22,101 students), 16 middle schools (9,020), 17 high schools (12,982), and 4 combined or other schools.

Rockford SD 205 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 28,467 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 44,836 students in SY 2017-18 versus 44,103 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 91 to 81 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment decreased from 48% to 41%.

On this page, the community for Winnebago County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Winnebago County?
Winnebago County, Illinois has 94 public K-12 schools serving approximately 44,103 students.
How many high schools are in Winnebago County?
Winnebago County, Illinois has 17 public high schools, serving approximately 12,982 students.
How many middle schools are in Winnebago County?
Winnebago County, Illinois has 16 public middle schools, serving approximately 9,020 students.
How many elementary schools are in Winnebago County?
Winnebago County, Illinois has 57 public elementary schools, serving approximately 22,101 students.
What is the largest school district in Winnebago County?
Rockford SD 205 is the largest school district in Winnebago County, serving approximately 28,467 students. The county contains 13 school districts overall.
How many people live in Winnebago County?
Winnebago County has roughly 283,292 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Winnebago County?
Median household income in Winnebago County is $65,837, below the Illinois average of $70,291. About 11.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Winnebago County?
Approximately 25.2% of adults 25 and older in Winnebago County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Winnebago County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 61.4% of students in Winnebago County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Illinois county average of 51.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Winnebago County schools?
Across Winnebago County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 17.0 to 1.

Winnebago County school rankings

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