Gurnee Sd 56, IL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Gurnee Sd 56

Gurnee School District 56 serves a pre-K through 8th grade population across four schools in Lake County. The district is home to a diverse student body, with roughly equal shares from Hispanic and Black backgrounds, a meaningful Asian population, and smaller numbers of white students and multiracial learners. The district is economically diverse, and in a significant recent move, it implemented the Community Eligibility Program, providing free breakfast and lunch to all students across all four schools with no application required. This is a household-level change worth noting for families weighing school choice.

The district's academic results on Illinois state assessments show pronounced weakness across both reading and math. On the most recent state tests, proficiency rates in mathematics ranged from single digits in 7th grade to roughly a quarter of students in 3rd grade meeting proficiency standards. Across grades, a substantially higher proficiency rate appeared only in 8th-grade language arts, where the rate was in the mid-to-high range; most other grades in reading fell in the low-to-mid range. Science proficiency in 5th and 8th grades was similarly modest. A parent may want to explore these results directly with schools and the district to understand the context, whether specific grade levels or schools perform differently, and what interventions are in place.

When placed against the 49 districts in Lake County, Gurnee SD 56's overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. Chronic absenteeism rates run slightly below the county median, a modest positive marker. Per-pupil spending sits in the middle range, on the lower half.

The district's leadership has anchored recent work around a "Portrait of a Graduate" framework paired with district-wide curriculum and instruction models called "Portrait to Practice" and "Portrait to Impact." These are intended to shape what every student experiences before leaving 8th grade, and the district has shared this approach at national superintendent convenings. The specifics of how this translates to classroom practice across the four schools would benefit from direct conversation with building leaders and teachers.

The towns served by the district sit in a mid-range housing market within Lake County. Home values in the primary zip codes have shown modest appreciation. Rental costs, while below ownership costs, remain a meaningful monthly commitment. The region is served by Lake County's economic conditions, with typical household income and modest unemployment.

Gurnee SD 56 is a small-to-mid-sized elementary and middle district with a diverse enrollment and an explicit equity commitment via free meals for all. The academic trajectory is a clear area where the district is working to improve, and prospective families should seek clarity on the district's current and forward strategies, the performance of individual schools, and what support systems exist for students who enter below grade level.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,891

Grades

PK–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 49%

Black 22%

White 19%

Asian 5%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

19%

—

Gr 4

18%

—

Gr 5

24%

—

Gr 6

15%

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

25%

—

Math

Gr 3

17%

—

Gr 4

11%

—

Gr 5

—

Gr 6

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

—

Science

Gr 5

11%

—

Gr 8

20%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Prairie Trail School

Spaulding Elementary School

Viking School

River Trail School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

19%

Grade 4

14%

Grade 5

11%

Grade 6

Grade 7

17%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

34%

Grade 5

27%

Grade 6

16%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$357,534

Year-over-year change+6.3%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$231K to $381K

vs. state typical1.23x

vs. national typical0.97x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
60031	Gurnee	$372K	+5.4%	45.6%
60083	Wadsworth	$381K	+6.3%	38.4%
60087	Waukegan	$262K	+9.2%	15.1%
60085	Waukegan	$231K	+6.1%	0.8%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,802/mo

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,530 to $1,896/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
60031	Gurnee	$1,896	+2.3%	45.6%
60087	Waukegan	$1,530	—	15.1%
60085	Waukegan	$1,621	+3.1%	0.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,804/mo

Home price / national median income4.3x

Annual rent / national median income25.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$2/mo

Market Activity: Lake County

Median listing price$499,000

Median listing price YoY+6.2%

Median price per sq ft$240

Median price per sq ft YoY+7.6%

Median days on market29.0 days

Median days on market YoY+1.8%

Active listings862

Active listings YoY-10.0%

New listings832

New listings YoY-7.1%

Pending listings1,154

Pending listings YoY-3.0%

Hotness: median listing price$499,450

Hotness: median listing price YoY+3.6%

Supply score95.4

Supply score YoY+0.9%

Demand score77.8

Demand score YoY+1.8%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$290,210 (+4.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.