Public schools in Waukegan, IL
23 open public schools with an address in Waukegan, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
23
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
14,159
23 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.4:1
Illinois median 13:1
Charter schools
1
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Waukegan public schools
The federal directory lists 23 public schools in Waukegan, IL: 16 elementary, 5 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 23 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 14,159 students, an average of 616 per school. The largest campus is Waukegan High School (4,186 students), and the largest elementary school is Glenwood Elementary School (577).
Waukegan CUSD 60 operates the most schools here (22), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.4:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 69% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Waukegan
Elementary schools in Waukegan
16| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 · Magnet | KG–05 | 395 | 11.3:1 | |
| Carman-Buckner Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–05 | 509 | 14.5:1 | |
| Clearview Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–05 | 404 | 9.6:1 | |
| Glen Flora Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–05 | 476 | 12.9:1 | |
| Glenwood Elementary School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 577 | 13.4:1 | |
| Greenwood Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–05 | 318 | 11.8:1 | |
| H R McCall Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 396 | 12:1 | |
| Hyde Park Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 295 | 13.4:1 | |
| John S Clark Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 262 | 10.9:1 | |
| LEARN John and Kathy Schreiber Charter School LEARN John and Kathy Schreiber Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 519 | 12.1:1 | |
| Little Fort Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 421 | 13.6:1 | |
| Lyon Magnet Elementary School Waukegan CUSD 60 · Magnet | KG–05 | 430 | 14.3:1 | |
| North Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–05 | 498 | 15.1:1 | |
| Oakdale Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–05 | 505 | 18.7:1 | |
| Washington Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 384 | 12.4:1 | |
| Whittier Elem School Waukegan CUSD 60 | KG–05 | 438 | 11.8:1 |
Middle schools in Waukegan
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edith M Smith Middle School Waukegan CUSD 60 | 06–08 | 493 | 11.2:1 | |
| Jack Benny Middle School Waukegan CUSD 60 | 06–08 | 475 | 12.5:1 | |
| John R Lewis Middle School Waukegan CUSD 60 | 06–08 | 721 | 11.3:1 | |
| Miguel Juarez Middle School Waukegan CUSD 60 | 06–08 | 651 | 10.7:1 | |
| Robert E Abbott Middle School Waukegan CUSD 60 | 06–08 | 585 | 11.9:1 |
High schools in Waukegan
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan High School Waukegan CUSD 60 | 09–12 | 4,186 | 13:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Waukegan
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Learning Center Waukegan CUSD 60 | PK–PK | 221 | 14.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White2.7%
- Hispanic81.7%
- Black11.2%
- Asian1.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial1.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 23 Waukegan schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (14,159 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Waukegan
How many public schools are in Waukegan, IL?
The current NCES directory lists 23 open public schools with a location address in Waukegan: 16 elementary, 5 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 14,159 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Waukegan?
Schools with an address in Waukegan belong to 2 education agencies, led by Waukegan CUSD 60 (22 schools), LEARN John and Kathy Schreiber Charter School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Waukegan?
Waukegan High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Waukegan, with 4,186 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Waukegan?
Yes. 1 of the 23 public schools in Waukegan are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including LEARN John and Kathy Schreiber Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Waukegan schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Waukegan public schools is 12.4:1, similar to the Illinois school median of 13:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Waukegan guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Illinois cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Illinois cities