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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Lake County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 41 public preschools serving 16,872 students in Lake County, IL. The top-ranked public preschools in Lake County, IL are South Park Elementary School, Sheridan Elementary School and Butterfield School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lake County, IL public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the Illinois public pre school average of 22%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 25% statewide average). Pre schools in Lake County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Illinois public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is equal to the Illinois public preschool average of 59% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Lake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
South Park Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1421 Hackberry Rd
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 945-5895
Gr: PK-5 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
Sheridan Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
300 S Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-1160
Gr: PK-4 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #33.
Butterfield School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1441 Lake St
Libertyville, IL 60048
(847) 362-3120
Gr: PK-5 | 568 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #44.
Lake Bluff Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
350 W Washington Ave
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
(847) 234-9405
Gr: PK-5 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #55.
May Whitney Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
200 Church St
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(847) 438-2351
Gr: PK-5 | 677 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #66.
Millburn Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
18550 W Millburn Rd
Wadsworth, IL 60083
(847) 356-8331
Gr: PK-5 | 711 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #77.
Oak Terrace Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
240 Prairie Ave
Highwood, IL 60040
(224) 765-3100
Gr: PK-5 | 494 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #88.
William L Thompson School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
515 Thompson Ln
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 245-8301
Gr: PK-5 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #99.
Cotton Creek School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
545 Newport Ct
Island Lake, IL 60042
(847) 526-4700
Gr: PK-5 | 580 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1010.
B J Hooper Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2400 E Sand Lake Rd
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 356-8101
Gr: PK-5 | 545 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1111.
Westfield School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2309 9th St
Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096
(847) 872-5438
Gr: PK-4 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1212.
Grass Lake Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
26177 W Grass Lake Rd
Antioch, IL 60002
(847) 395-1550
Gr: PK-8 | 186 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1313.
Wauconda Grade School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
225 Osage St
Wauconda, IL 60084
(847) 526-6671
Gr: PK-5 | 421 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1414.
Oak Crest School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
38550 N Lewis Ave
Zion, IL 60099
(847) 599-5519
Gr: PK-5 | 308 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1515.
Laremont School
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
17934 W Gages Lake Rd
Grayslake, IL 60030
(847) 223-8191
Gr: PK-12
Rank: #1616.
Greenwood Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1919 North Ave
Waukegan, IL 60087
(224) 303-2080
Gr: PK-5 | 318 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1717.
Olive C Martin School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
24750 W Dering Ln
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 245-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 511 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1818.
Gavin Central Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
36414 N Ridge Rd
Ingleside, IL 60041
(847) 973-3280
Gr: PK-4 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1919.
Oakdale Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2230 N Mcaree Rd
Waukegan, IL 60087
(224) 303-1860
Gr: PK-5 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2020.
Glen Flora Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1110 Chestnut St
Waukegan, IL 60085
(224) 303-1800
Gr: PK-5 | 476 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2121.
Clearview Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1700 Delaware Rd
Waukegan, IL 60087
(224) 303-1600
Gr: PK-5 | 404 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2222.
Beulah Park Elementary School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 23% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1910 Gilboa Ave
Zion, IL 60099
(847) 379-0005
Gr: PK-2 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2323.
East Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15-19% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2913 Elim Ave
Zion, IL 60099
(847) 379-0161
Gr: PK-2 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2424.
Carman-buckner Elementary School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 9%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
520 Helmholz Ave
Waukegan, IL 60085
(224) 303-1500
Gr: PK-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2525.
North Elementary School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 8%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
410 Franklin St
Waukegan, IL 60085
(224) 303-2160
Gr: PK-5 | 498 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
Barrington Early Learning Center
40 E Dundee Rd
Barrington, IL 60010
(224) 770-4300
Gr: PK | 194 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: n/an/a
Big Hollow Primary School
33335 N Fish Lake Rd
Ingleside, IL 60041
(847) 740-5320
Gr: PK-1 | 387 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: n/an/a
Diamond Lake School
25807 N Diamond Lake Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 566-6601
Gr: PK-2 | 262 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Learning Center
1721 N Mcaree Rd
Waukegan, IL 60085
(224) 303-1400
Gr: PK | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: n/an/a
Fremont Elementary School
28908 N Fremont Center Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 837-0437
Gr: PK-2 | 743 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: n/an/a
Grayslake Early Childhood
103 E Belvidere Rd
Grayslake, IL 60030
(847) 543-6203
Gr: PK | 147 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: n/an/a
Green Bay Early Childhood Center
2100 Green Bay Rd
North Chicago, IL 60064
(847) 775-7100
Gr: PK | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: n/an/a
Hawthorn School For Young Learners
637 N Aspen Dr
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
(847) 990-4760
Gr: K | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: n/an/a
Lakeview School
2200 Bethesda Blvd
Zion, IL 60099
(847) 379-0477
Gr: PK-2 | 249 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: n/an/a
Laura B Sprague School
2425 Riverwoods Rd
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
(847) 945-6665
Gr: PK-2 | 525 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Show 6 more public schools in Lake County, IL (out of 41 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Lake County, IL?
The top-ranked public preschools in Lake County, IL include South Park Elementary School, Sheridan Elementary School and Butterfield School. Lake County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Illinois.
How many public preschools are located in Lake County?
44 public preschools are located in Lake County.
What is the racial composition of students in Lake County?
Lake County public preschools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is equal to the Illinois public preschools average of 59% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Lake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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