2020 Best Public High Schools in McHenry CountyAbout this List

Prairie Ridge High School

• Community High School District No. 155, IL
• 9-12
• 322 reviews

Senior: PR is such a wonderful school with an incredible sense of community. Everyone supports each other despite differences in certain clubs/sports. The football players respect the marching band, the soccer team comes out to the musical and vise versa, the arts support our academic teams. Everyone is welcoming and accepting to the multitude of students we have at our school. We also have the best student services office! The counselors, secretaries and college career advisors are the best resources for students and are incredibly helpful. PR embraces community between different groups, as well as between students and teachers.
Read 322 Reviews

• A+

• 1,458 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cary-Grove Community High School

• Community High School District No. 155, IL
• 9-12
• 355 reviews

Senior: Cary Grove High School is a school that welcomes all! Having the Connect Crew program allowing upper class men to make the freshman feel more comfortable coming into a new school. Cary Grove has many opportunities for everyone no matter what your interests are. My experience at Cary Grove is one I will never forget from attending football games to a state winnning team, to watching our award winning musicals and sharing a special bond with each and everyone of my teachers, Cary Grove is definitely the place to be!
Read 355 Reviews

• A+

• 1,747 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Huntley High School

• Huntley Community School District No 158, IL
• 9-12
• 527 reviews

Alum: Huntley High School has an extremely enthusiastic student body. Sporting events are like no other, and the support a team receives on game day is heartwarming. It is a very large school, so it’s not likely one is to pass the same person in the hallway twice in one day. It’s newly remodeled and in better shape than ever. Not the mention, the challenging curriculum make HHS one of the best high schools in the state of IL!
Read 527 Reviews

• A

• 2,995 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Crystal Lake Central High School

• Community High School District No. 155, IL
• 9-12
• 223 reviews

Senior: Crystal Lake Central High School feels more like a family rather than a school. Yes everyone is coming there to learn and receive a good education. But the support and relationships that you create throughout those 4 years are incredible. All the teachers and staff go out of their way to make sure you're understanding the content and if you need extra help, they are extremely flexible with your schedule to make time. Currently I am a senior and I can say with confidence that I have made the best group of friends that have supported me, pushed me, and helped me reach my full potential! Athletically I am involved in volleyball and soccer. And the coaches really challenge you in order to get used to feeling uncomfortable and ready for your future beyond high school. With graduation only a few months away I can say I am honestly ready and prepared to face college and the challenges life is ready to throw at me thanks to the amazing high school I attended Crystal Lake Central High School!
Read 223 Reviews

• A

• 1,545 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Crystal Lake South High School

• Community High School District No. 155, IL
• 9-12
• 348 reviews

Senior: Crystal Lake South is nothing short of a community. The welcoming atmosphere provides comfortable learning conditions and a sense of belonging. Each staff member and all of the administration aim to keep the environment as safe and as efficient as possible, leaving no student behind. There are several clubs, sports and activities to get involved in at CLS, so you'll always have something that's tailored to your interests! Also, each activity has several leadership positions and roles you can take advantage of as well. Overall, Crystal Lake South develops well-rounded students, and I'm very thankful to have been apart of the CLS student body. For the past four years, I have had a huge support system underneath me, and I'm eternally grateful for that. I appreciate the memories, experiences and learning opportunities I've had over the years, as well as the interactions I've had with teachers, and my fellow students.
Read 348 Reviews

• A

• 1,527 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Woodstock High School

• Woodstock Community Unit School District No. 200, IL
• 9-12
• 151 reviews

Senior: I believe Woodstock High School is a good school and it has a lot of opportunities that help you figure out what interests you may have, whether it's academics or clubs/sports. The teachers help students when they are in need of assistance. They are willing to come early or stay late. The school also offers many extra classes that are not required, but are verily interesting. Some of these include, Sociology, Psychology, and Economics. They also provide art and music classes. The school has a wide variety of clubs to join which gives every student the chance to feel like they are a part of the school.
Read 151 Reviews

• A

• 1,027 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Richmond-Burton High School

• Public School
• Richmond, IL
• 9-12
• 191 reviews

Senior: Richmond-burton as a whole is nice on the outside, with a great football program, seemingly nice staff and some of the best test scores in the state. But looking deeper not all teacher seems to know what their doing and for some the extent of their teaching is just word for word out of some book. Don't get me wrong it's a great school and it has a bunch of great teachers, but their just seems to be some bad eggs in the bunch who don't seem to care about teaching or the students in the slightest. It's also super tiny and they cram as many kids as they can into classes so it's easy to get overwhelmed and feel like everyone on top of each other all the time.
Read 191 Reviews

• A-

• 727 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Harry D. Jacobs High School

• Community Unit School District No. 300, IL
• 9-12
• 521 reviews

Senior: I think that Jacobs has a very proficient counseling staff, who is always supportive and there for the students, by implementing follow-up meetings and check-ins. The staff and school overall prioritizes mental health and puts that over everything. They provide stress-relieving activities in the lunchroom such as coloring sheets or play-doh, which although is simple, is very appreciated. One thing that could be improved in my opinion is providing a wider variety of courses. I think my academic experience would be improved if I had the opportunity to take more classes that are specific to majors.
Read 521 Reviews

• A-

• 2,118 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Hampshire High School

• Community Unit School District No. 300, IL
• 9-12
• 350 reviews

Senior: I had many great experiences, most of which came from extracurricular activities, and Hampshire Athletics helped me become the athlete I am today. Academically, I believe that Hampshire High School has prepared me to continue my education to become a Pediatrician. I am so glad I have built so many great relationships with teachers and peers throughout my four years!
Read 350 Reviews

• A-

• 1,588 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Marengo High School

• Public School
• Marengo, IL
• 9-12
• 176 reviews

Sophomore: Marengo High School is a very well known school throughout the county. I love Marengo High School because their programs are very wonderful. For example, their Spanish classes are very helpful. I am a Hispanic student and the Spanish classes have been able to help me improve and learn more about the Hispanic culture. Many of the students here get along and every ethnicity is accepted. There has been no reports in bullying and everyone gets along very well. This high school pushes everyone to do their very best and has many college visits come so we can start looking around for collages. There are many clubs to join and they are all hands on learning. We bond as a team, a group and we gather our school together. Our teachers are amazing and love their jobs profoundly. Overall this school is full of opportunities,
Read 176 Reviews

• A-

• 707 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Woodstock North High School

• Woodstock Community Unit School District No. 200, IL
• 9-12
• 146 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed my time at Woodstock north high-school! It was a very supportive and fun learning environment. I made lots of life-long friends and learned what it takes to be a hard worker. I was involved in school activities and played baseball there. I feel that it does need to improve on its athletic programs, it just doesn't seem to be on the priority of the school and we have lots of trouble competing with other school.
Read 146 Reviews

• A-

• 942 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

McHenry High School - West Campus

• McHenry Community High School District No. 156, IL
• 9-12
• 254 reviews

Senior: The environment and community surrounding the school is absolutely amazing. People are kind and no one is afraid to enter the school. There is a lot of community involvement around the school as well. From Key Club in the school, to any community involvement, people are always looking for opportunities to help out around town. The classes offered at West Campus rage from the level of education each person may need. There are the regular basis classes and there are the AP classes that help to prepare you for college and give you college credit. The overall purpose behind West classes is t prepare each individual student for after high school. Besides the classes, there are many clubs and activities for every student! Ranging from a video gaming club to the average sports teams. There is something for every kid to enjoy and get involved in. McHenry West Campus focuses on what is best for their students before anything else.
Read 254 Reviews

• B+

• 1,431 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

McHenry High School - East Campus

• McHenry Community High School District No. 156, IL
• 9-12
• 225 reviews

Senior: Being a smaller school, we are a very close-knit community. My favorite part is how much the teachers want us to succeed. We have a class period every day where the entire school is dedicated to going to teachers for help, so every teacher is available!
Read 225 Reviews

• B+

• 795 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cambridge Lakes Charter School

• Community Unit School District No. 300, IL
• K-12
• 7 reviews

Niche User: The accomplishments over the first decade have been exceptional. Students consistently experience challenging subject material. They experience individualized learning. Language, the arts, and drama are available to all students.
The Cambridge Lakes Academy high school's achievement in five years, to be rated 77 among Illinois public high schools speaks well for the value of Belnded e-Learning.
Read 7 Reviews

• B+

• 815 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Dundee-Crown High School

• Community Unit School District No. 300, IL
• 9-12
• 406 reviews

Senior: I absolutely loved attending Dundee-Crown High school! Given that I was involved in numerous sports, clubs, and other organizations, I felt connected to this school and was proud to be a Charger. The teachers are incredibly compassionate and genuinely want you to succeed in their classes. Despite the adequate facilities, Dundee-Crown possesses a spirit that is difficult to come by.
Read 406 Reviews

• B+

• 2,474 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Johnsburg High School

• Johnsburg Community Unit School District No. 12, IL
• 9-12
• 143 reviews

Senior: I have had many incredible experiences here at Johnsburg. Being a small town in the Midwest though, it's hard to find diversity. For people looking to find a smaller school, Johnsburg is an excellent choice. The teachers are great, and the programs here excel. However, if you're looking to find a school with lots of diversity and strong representation of different cultures, I would look further.
Read 143 Reviews

• B

• 655 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alden-Hebron High School

• Alden Hebron School District No. 19, IL
• 9-12
• 4 reviews

Senior: Alden Hebron High School is a wonderful school. All of the staff strives to get to know each student and do what it takes to make them succeed. Going to a smaller school gives the students an advantage to work individually with teachers and get extra help they need. The Academic Adviser works to prepare all students for college and help them get to where they want to go. I feel important and cared about at AHHS.
Read 4 Reviews

• B-

• 109 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Harvard High School

• Harvard Community Unit School District 50, IL
• 9-12
• 55 reviews

Alum: Harvard High School was an interesting school to attend. There were many pros and cons. The teachers were great, but they were always leaving due to lack of higher pay. Everything about the school was average. Overall, a decent place to attend.
Read 55 Reviews

• C+

• 678 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Clay Academy

• Woodstock Community Unit School District No. 200, IL
• PK, K-12

• NG

• 59 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oak Ridge School

• Community Unit School District No. 300, IL
• 6-12

• NG

• 22 Students
• 3:1 Student-Teacher Ratio