Marengo Chsd 154, IL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Marengo Chsd 154

Marengo CHSD 154 is a small high school district serving grades nine through twelve in McHenry County, Illinois. The district runs a single high school and enrolls a modest population across its four grades. The student body is about two-thirds White and roughly a quarter Hispanic, with much smaller numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Free-or-reduced-price lunch rates were not available in the data provided.

State assessment data for the district were not available. This absence is typical for high school districts, as Illinois administers state testing in earlier grades; no graduation rate was reported either, and a parent may want to request that metric directly from the district office to understand how many students complete the program on time.

The district does face current financial constraints worth understanding before relocating to the area. Following a 2025 court judgment, Marengo CHSD 154 was ordered to return tax money to property owners who sued over what they alleged was an excessive levy in 2022. The court found the district had accumulated large balances in its operations and maintenance fund and had shifted money toward capital projects without voter approval. The district subsequently settled a second suit over the 2023 levy. Collectively, these judgments and settlements mean the district returned a substantial sum to taxpayers and has now seen its levy capacity constrained going forward. The superintendent publicly noted that subsequent levies were already set lower than the allowable rate, a signal that the district's financial flexibility is tighter than it was. For families considering buying property in the district, this means property tax pressures may ease compared to recent years, but the underlying limitation on district funding is real and may affect future spending on programs and facilities.

Among McHenry County's districts, Marengo CHSD 154 reports a chronic absenteeism rate in the bottom quartile, meaning absenteeism is higher here than in most neighboring districts. The district's per-pupil spending lands in the middle-to-upper range for the county, neither sparse nor lavish. These two markers together suggest the district operates within moderate resources but faces attendance challenges that may warrant a conversation with school leadership about root causes and support systems.

Housing values in the district's core area around Marengo are modest for the region, sitting below the county median. The market has seen recent modest appreciation and moderate inventory, with rental options available as well. The affordability picture is reasonable relative to the state and nation, and lending rates and unemployment in the region are near historical middle ground.

The district operates one high school. Beyond basic enrollment and demographic data, limited information is publicly available on course breadth, dual-credit or career pathways, special populations, or staffing patterns. A parent seeking detailed academic program information, AP or honors course availability, or special education supports should reach out to the district directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

689

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 29%

Black 1%

White 67%

Asian 0%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

Marengo High School

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$362,225

Year-over-year change+6.0%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$274K to $423K

vs. state typical1.25x

vs. national typical0.98x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
60152	Marengo	$353K	+6.0%	78.6%
60180	Union	$418K	+7.2%	14.4%
60142	Huntley	$423K	+2.7%	2.3%
60033	Harvard	$274K	+3.9%	1.6%
60135	Genoa	$307K	+6.7%	0.9%
60098	Woodstock	$338K	+4.4%	0.9%
60140	Hampshire	$394K	+3.2%	0.9%
61038	Garden Prairie	$324K	+6.3%	0.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,038/mo

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,555 to $2,519/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
60098	Woodstock	$1,555	—	0.9%
60140	Hampshire	$2,519	—	0.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,828/mo

Home price / national median income4.3x

Annual rent / national median income29.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$210/mo

Market Activity: McHenry County

Median listing price$423,450

Median listing price YoY+0.8%

Median price per sq ft$211

Median price per sq ft YoY+4.5%

Median days on market33.0 days

Median days on market YoY+4.8%

Active listings422

Active listings YoY-12.8%

New listings448

New listings YoY-3.5%

Pending listings612

Pending listings YoY-9.6%

Hotness: median listing price$421,748

Hotness: median listing price YoY+1.7%

Supply score90.8

Supply score YoY+1.2%

Demand score84.4

Demand score YoY-1.7%

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

Academic Performance
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.