The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 62% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Barrington Mdle Sch- Prairie Cmps
Barrington Middle School - Prairie Campus serves grades six through eight in Barrington, a historic village northwest of Chicago with a preserved downtown core, walkable streets anchored by a Metra station, and a strong community park system. The school draws from a residential area with a substantial middle-class and affluent housing base. Housing values in the local market are moderate to high for the region, and rental costs reflect a mixed-income community with a rent-to-income ratio indicating housing affordability challenges for renters relative to regional wages.
The school's enrollment is mid-sized for a middle grades building, drawing students across three grade levels with a demographic profile that skews toward white and Asian students, with smaller populations of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial learners. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, which limits a full picture of economic diversity within the school.
State assessment results in mathematics and English language arts show a middle-school trajectory. In sixth grade, mathematics proficiency sits at roughly half of students meeting or exceeding the state standard, while ELA proficiency is stronger at around four-fifths. By seventh grade, mathematics proficiency improves to roughly two-thirds; ELA remains strong at similar levels. Eighth grade shows the strongest results, with mathematics proficiency around two-thirds and ELA proficiency reaching around five-sixths. In eighth-grade science, proficiency approaches four-fifths. The pattern across grades suggests that older students in the building perform better, though sixth-grade mathematics proficiency in particular reflects a soft spot that a parent may want to discuss with the school. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the top quartile of Cook County school district buildings on a composite measure across tested subjects and grades.
The school's performance in ELA, particularly in grades seven and eight, represents a clear strength. Mathematics proficiency climbs as students progress, suggesting that foundational work earlier or support structures do help students advance. Science proficiency in eighth grade is solid. Participation rates are very high across all tested grades, indicating consistent engagement with state assessments.
The school is a regular public school with no magnet or charter designation. State testing data for grades three through five was not available; those grades are not tested in Illinois, and Prairie Campus serves only grades six through eight, so no data exists for elementary assessments. A graduation rate does not apply, as the school does not serve high school grades. Discipline data, course catalogs, staffing information, and attendance metrics were not provided.
Barrington CUSD 220 completed a major capital program funded by a referendum passed in 2020, adding sensory rooms to elementary schools and security upgrades across the district. In the 2024-25 school year, the district implemented free full-day kindergarten at all elementary buildings, eliminating an earlier fee-based program. Voters approved a substantial referendum in November 2024 to fund further safety upgrades, instructional improvements, and a new community auditorium at the high school; tax analyses suggest the actual cost to homeowners may be notably higher than initial estimates. For a family considering the area, these infrastructure investments signal district commitment to physical learning environments, though the tax burden warrants careful review before a move.
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