Best Elementary Schools in Will County 2026
Will County families have access to some of Illinois' strongest elementary districts. Here's what sets the top performers apart and how you can evaluate them yourself.
How Illinois School Districts Work
If you're coming from another state, the structure can catch you off guard. Illinois uses a dual-district system for most of Will County. Elementary districts serve grades K through 8, while separate high school districts cover grades 9 through 12. A child living in Frankfort, for example, might attend a Summit Hill District 161 school for elementary and middle school, then move into Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 for high school.
This matters because the elementary district your home falls in won't necessarily feed into the high school district you'd expect. Boundaries overlap in ways that aren't always intuitive, and a house on one side of a street could be in a different district than the house across from it. Always verify your exact address against district boundary maps before making a purchase.
How to Evaluate an Elementary District
Parents tend to rely on word-of-mouth rankings or third-party websites, but the most reliable data comes straight from the Illinois State Board of Education. ISBE publishes annual report cards for every public school and district in the state. Here's what to focus on:
ISBE Report Cards
The Illinois Report Card (illinoisreportcard.com) provides standardized data on academic performance, demographics, finances, and more. Look for the school's overall designation -- Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted, or Comprehensive. Schools rated Exemplary or Commendable are meeting or exceeding state expectations. Districts with multiple buildings at those levels generally have strong curriculum, stable leadership, and consistent funding.
IAR Test Scores
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness measures proficiency in English Language Arts and Math for grades 3 through 8. Pay attention to the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations, but also look at year-over-year trends. A school that jumped from 42% to 58% proficiency in two years is doing something right, even if another school sits at 65% but has been flat for five years.
Student-Teacher Ratios
Smaller class sizes don't guarantee better outcomes, but they do mean more individual attention. In Will County, elementary ratios typically range from 15:1 to 22:1 depending on the district and grade level. Anything under 18:1 is solid. Districts that have managed to keep ratios low despite enrollment growth usually have strong tax bases and careful budget management.
Beyond the Numbers
Scores don't tell the full story. Visit the school during a regular weekday if you can. Talk to parents at pickup. Check whether the district offers gifted programs, special education resources, art, music, and physical education as regular parts of the week rather than occasional add-ons. A district's culture and community engagement matter as much as its test data.
Top Elementary Districts in Will County
The districts below consistently rank among the strongest in the county based on ISBE data, community reputation, and overall program quality. They aren't listed in strict rank order -- each has strengths that suit different family priorities.
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
Communities Served: Plainfield, portions of Joliet, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Crest Hill
Enrollment: ~27,000 students (one of the largest in the state)
Schools: 20+ elementary buildings, 6 middle schools
Notable Strengths: STEM programming, full-day kindergarten, strong parent involvement
Plainfield 202 is massive, and that scale comes with advantages. The district funds dedicated STEM labs, reading specialists at every building, and robust gifted and talented programming. Several of its elementary schools -- including Liberty, Wesmere, and Heritage Grove -- routinely post IAR scores well above state averages. The trade-off is size: some newer subdivisions deal with boundary adjustments as enrollment shifts. Still, for families who want access to a wide range of programs without paying private school tuition, 202 delivers consistently.
Summit Hill School District 161 (Frankfort)
Communities Served: Frankfort, portions of Mokena and Tinley Park
Enrollment: ~3,800 students
Schools: 5 elementary, 1 junior high
Notable Strengths: High test scores, small-district feel, advanced academics
Summit Hill 161 is the district that families in south Will County talk about. Its schools -- Arbury Hills, Indian Trail, Hickory Creek -- regularly land Commendable or Exemplary designations from ISBE. Class sizes stay manageable because the district hasn't experienced the explosive growth that hit Plainfield and Joliet. The junior high feeds into Lincoln-Way high schools, which adds to the appeal. If you're looking at homes in Frankfort, you'll pay a premium to be inside 161 boundaries, and most families consider it worth the cost.
Mokena School District 159
Communities Served: Mokena
Enrollment: ~2,200 students
Schools: 3 elementary, 1 junior high
Notable Strengths: Tight-knit community, strong parental engagement, consistent performance
Mokena 159 benefits from being a small, focused district in a community that takes its schools seriously. The four buildings -- Mokena Elementary, MJH Intermediate, Mokena Junior High, and Mary E. Daly -- maintain steady academic performance. Parents often cite the sense of community as a major draw. Teachers stick around, which means less turnover and stronger relationships between staff and families. Like Summit Hill, students here move on to Lincoln-Way high schools.
New Lenox School District 122
Communities Served: New Lenox, portions of Joliet and Mokena
Enrollment: ~5,400 students
Schools: 7 elementary, 2 middle schools
Notable Strengths: Well-funded, modern facilities, comprehensive extracurriculars
New Lenox 122 sits in a sweet spot -- large enough to offer diverse programming but small enough that families don't feel lost. The district invested heavily in facility upgrades over the past decade, and it shows. Cherry Hill, Oster-Oakview, and Spencer Crossing all perform well on state assessments. The district runs a solid gifted program and maintains strong special education services. Feeding into Lincoln-Way for high school keeps the overall K-12 trajectory strong.
Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C
Communities Served: Portions of Plainfield, Joliet, Shorewood, Troy Township
Enrollment: ~6,000 students
Schools: 7 elementary, 2 middle schools
Notable Strengths: Growing investment, bilingual programs, improving scores
Troy 30-C serves a rapidly growing area southwest of Plainfield and deserves attention from families who might overlook it. The district has made significant strides in recent years, investing in updated curriculum, technology, and teacher development. William B. Orenic Intermediate and Troy Craughwell schools have posted improving IAR numbers. The district also runs robust bilingual and ELL programs, reflecting the diversity of its student population. Home prices in 30-C boundaries tend to be lower than Plainfield 202 or New Lenox 122, making it an attractive option for families balancing budget with school quality.
Homer Community Consolidated School District 33-C
Communities Served: Homer Glen, Lockport (portions)
Enrollment: ~3,500 students
Schools: 5 elementary, 1 middle school
Notable Strengths: Spacious campuses, strong test performance, community focus
Homer 33-C reflects the character of Homer Glen itself -- a bit more spacious, a bit more rural-suburban, and deeply community oriented. Schools like William J. Butler and Goodings Grove produce consistently good test results. The district benefits from lower student density compared to the Joliet and Plainfield areas, which keeps class sizes comfortable. Homer Glen families appreciate the outdoor space and the slower pace, and the schools match that vibe with a practical, no-frills approach to academics.
Lockport School District 91
Communities Served: City of Lockport
Enrollment: ~2,000 students
Schools: 4 elementary, 1 middle school
Notable Strengths: Historic community, steady leadership, well-rounded programs
Lockport 91 covers the historic city center and surrounding neighborhoods. The district may not generate the same buzz as Plainfield or Summit Hill, but it has a track record of stability. Kelvin Grove, Reed, and Milne elementary schools maintain solid academic results. What stands out is the community integration -- Lockport's schools feel connected to the town's identity, with partnerships that tie into the I&M Canal heritage and local events. For families drawn to Lockport's charm and more affordable home prices, this district offers genuine value.
Frankfort Community Consolidated School District 157-C
Communities Served: Portions of Frankfort, West Frankfort
Enrollment: ~2,800 students
Schools: 3 elementary, 1 middle school
Notable Strengths: Strong community ties, experienced staff, competitive academics
District 157-C often gets overshadowed by its neighbor, Summit Hill 161, but it holds its own. Chelsea, Grand Prairie, and Frankfort Square schools post respectable numbers, and the district benefits from a stable tax base and experienced teaching staff. Families in the 157-C zone still feed into Lincoln-Way high schools, so the K-12 pipeline remains strong. Home prices within 157-C boundaries tend to run slightly below Summit Hill territory, which makes it a solid pick for families who want the Frankfort area without stretching their budget.
A Note on School Boundaries
One of the most common mistakes families make when house-hunting in Will County is assuming that the city a home is listed in matches the school district it belongs to. That isn't always the case. A home with a Plainfield mailing address could sit in Troy 30-C or even Joliet 86. A Frankfort address might fall in Summit Hill 161 or Frankfort 157-C.
Before you make an offer on any property, verify the exact school district and attendance boundaries through the district's website or by calling the district office directly. Real estate listings sometimes get this wrong. The Illinois State Board of Education also maintains a school locator tool that can help confirm which buildings serve a given address.
What About Private and Charter Options?
Will County has a handful of private elementary schools, many affiliated with churches. Options include Providence Catholic, St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield, and several parish schools throughout Joliet. Charter schools are less common in Will County compared to Chicago, but families who want alternatives should research the options available in their specific area. That said, the public elementary districts in Will County are strong enough that most families find what they need within the public system.
Putting It All Together
Picking an elementary district comes down to what your family values most. Families who want the widest range of programs and don't mind a larger district will be well served by Plainfield 202 or New Lenox 122. Those who prefer a smaller, more intimate setting might lean toward Summit Hill 161, Mokena 159, or Lockport 91. Budget-conscious families should give Troy 30-C and Frankfort 157-C a serious look -- both offer solid academics at a lower price point than the headline districts.
Whatever your priorities, start with the ISBE report cards, visit the schools, and talk to parents in the neighborhoods you're considering. The data gives you a baseline, but the feel of a school community is something you can only get in person.
Explore more about Will County schools and communities. Read our School Districts Guide for the full K-12 picture, check out the Best Neighborhoods for Families, or use our Community Comparison Guide to see how these areas stack up side by side.