Top 25 Middle Schools in Lake County, According to Niche

Selecting the right middle school is a critical step in setting the foundation for a child’s educational journey. In Lake County, certain schools stand out with higher performance ratings than others.

Niche, a reputable school data analysis platform, has rated some of the top public middle schools in Lake County based on several key factors. The results stem from multiple ranking factors including teacher quality, state test scores, student-teacher ratio, student diversity and more. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

This story was updated on Nov. 14, 2024 by Chicago Parent’s Audience Development Manager, Katina Beniaris. Her work included updating the list with 2025 rankings and adding a graphic of the best public middle schools in Lake County. Questions? Email katina@chicagoparent.com. 

Best public middle schools in Lake County

1. Bannockburn School, Bannockburn (A+)
2. Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire (A)
3. Rondout Elementary School, Lake Forest (A)
4. Oak Grove Elementary School, Libertyville (A)
5. Lake Zurich Middle School – South Campus, Lake Zurich (A)
6. Lake Zurich Middle School – North Campus, Lake Zurich (A)
7. Charles J. Caruso Middle School, Deerfield (A)
8. Alan B. Shepard Middle School, Deerfield (A)
9. Woodlawn Middle School, Long Grove (A)
10. Twin Groves Middle School, Buffalo Grove (A)
11. Hawthorn Middle School South, Vernon Hills (A)
12. Deer Path Middle School East, Lake Forest (A)
13. Hawthorn Middle School North, Vernon Hills (A)
14. Lake Bluff Middle School, Lake Bluff (A)
15. Millburn Middle School, Lindenhurst (A-)
16. Deer Path Middle School West, Lake Forest (A)
17. Edgewood Middle School, Highland Park (A-)
18. Aptakisic Junior High School, Buffalo Grove (A)
19. Highland Middle School, Libertyville (A-)
20. Fremont Junior High/Middle School, Mundelein (A-)
21. Northwood Junior High School, Highland Park (A-)
22. Emmons Grade School, Antioch (B+)
23. Park West School, Round Lake (B+)
24. Peter J. Palombi School, Lake Villa (B+)
25. Woodland Middle School, Gurnee (B)

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