The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in English language arts. The lowest is 72% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on North Barrington Elem School
North Barrington Elementary School is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school in a low-density, residential village in Lake County. The school enrolls a small student body drawn from the immediate area, which is defined by large-lot estates, wooded terrain, and gated communities like Wynstone. The village itself has no downtown or major commercial base; it functions as a bedroom community where residents drive to Lake Zurich or the broader Barrington area for shopping and services.
The school's recent state assessment results show solid proficiency in the tested grades. In English language arts, third grade sits at a respectable level, while fourth and fifth grades show notably stronger proficiency, with fifth grade particularly strong. Math proficiency is steady across grades three and four, then declines in grade five. Science proficiency in grade five registers at a solid level. These results place the school in the top quartile of schools in Lake County on the proficiency index, a meaningful positioning that reflects the character of the school and its student population. It is worth noting that state testing cut scores were revised this year, so direct year-to-year trend comparison is not available from the data provided.
The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful representation of Asian and Hispanic families, and very small counts of Black and Native Hawaiian families. The school does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch participation rates, and special education and English learner rates are also not reported in the available data; a parent interested in understanding how the school serves students with diverse learning needs may want to contact the school directly on these topics.
The enrollment is small for the grade span, distributed across kindergarten through fifth grade, with the largest cohort in third grade. Kindergarten is now offered full-day at no cost to families, a change implemented district-wide in the 2024-25 school year that eliminates a previous fee-based enrichment model and extends instructional time.
North Barrington Elementary feeds into middle schools in adjacent communities—either Barrington Middle School (with Station or Prairie campus options) or Lake Zurich district schools depending on address. The broader Barrington CUSD 220 district recently passed a substantial referendum approved by voters in November 2024 to fund safety and security upgrades, instructional improvements, and a new community auditorium at the high school. The district notes that the average household impact will be meaningful and lasting; post-referendum analyses suggest the actual tax impact may be substantially higher than initial projections, which is a relevant consideration for families evaluating the total cost of residence in the area. The district also recently completed the Build Forward capital program from a prior referendum, which included sensory rooms in every elementary school and other facility upgrades.
Housing values in the village are high, reflecting the large-lot, estate character of the area. The broader housing market context in Cook County shows moderate supply and modest demand as of the most recent data, with median listing prices steady to rising slightly. Mortgage rates remain elevated, and rent-to-income ratios suggest housing affordability is constrained for many family types, though median household income in the region is well above the national average.
This is a school for families who value small-scale, residential suburban education in an insulated, car-dependent setting, with strong measured proficiency and a family-oriented peer environment. It is not a choice point for families seeking urban walkability, transit access, or a diverse commercial surroundings. The school is a fixture of the village rather than a destination, serving the immediate residential community.
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