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Cary Junior High School

Q: Is Cary Junior High School a good school?

Cary Junior High School ranks 424 th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

424^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 69% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Cary Junior High School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Cary, Illinois, with 745 students. The school is part of the Cary CCSD 26 district, which is ranked 275 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cary Junior High School has consistently performed above the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) and Science, but slightly below the state average in Mathematics. For example, in 2024-2025, 59.7% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 53.1%. However, the school has seen a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 13.4% in 2022-2023 to 25.4% in 2024-2025, which is significantly higher than the state average. The school's performance is generally in the middle range compared to nearby schools, such as Lake Zurich Middle - N Campus and Barrington Middle School Station, which outperformed Cary Junior High School in both ELA and Mathematics.

Cary Junior High School's spending per student has increased over the years, from $10,046 in 2020-2021 to $13,921 in 2023-2024, and its student-teacher ratio has remained relatively stable, ranging from 12.1 to 12.8 during the same period. The school has also seen an increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 21.1% in 2021-2022 to 28.19% in 2023-2024, which could indicate a growing population of students from lower-income families, requiring additional support and resources.

761

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,809

Per pupil spending ?

28.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2109 Crystal Lake Rd
Cary, IL 60013-1426

(224) 357-5150

District: Cary CCSD 26

Students who attend Cary Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Cary-Grove Community High School

Feeder schools for Cary Junior High School:

Elementary:	Briargate Elementary School
	Deer Path Elementary School
	Three Oaks School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.9%

Hispanic:

23.5%

Two or more races:

4.5%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Cary Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2015 → 69th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (51% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Above the Illinois median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg53%

Illinois avg46%

424^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 21 pts since 2015

From top 10% (2015) to top 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

275^th of 811Cary CCSD 26 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	65.1	424 of 1368	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.2	414 of 1363	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.1	304 of 1367	77.8%	★★★★☆
2022	74.1	289 of 1369	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	62.1	360 of 1241	71.0%	★★★★☆
2019	72.1	321 of 1356	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	79.3	225 of 1293	82.6%	★★★★☆
2017	82.5	191 of 1293	85.2%	★★★★☆
2016	87.7	121 of 1294	90.6%	★★★★★
2015	88.3	133 of 1302	89.8%	★★★★☆
2014	84.7	158 of 1322	88.0%	★★★★☆
2013	84.6	169 of 1367	87.6%	★★★★☆
2012	82.7	154 of 1365	88.7%	★★★★☆
2011	81.8	160 of 1344	88.1%	★★★★☆
2010	86.3	70 of 1327	94.7%	★★★★★
2009	83.9	118 of 1318	91.0%	★★★★★
2008	83.8	122 of 1293	90.6%	★★★★★
2007	81.8	160 of 1287	87.6%	★★★★☆
2006	84.8	103 of 1272	91.9%	★★★★★
2005	87.3	97 of 1209	92.0%	★★★★★
2004	84.1	146 of 1204	87.9%	★★★★☆
2003	89.5	75 of 1185	93.7%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.6	396 of 694	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.7	210 of 639	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.4	334 of 674	50.4%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	56.5	144 of 483	70.2%	★★★★☆
2024	48.6	175 of 486	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.1	187 of 480	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.4	303 of 454	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.7	242 of 277	12.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.7	310 of 339	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	37.3	182 of 285	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	64.3	398 of 1248	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.2	425 of 1251	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.7	338 of 1275	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	69.8	308 of 1286	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	52.8	410 of 1017	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.3	309 of 1276	75.8%	★★★★☆
2018	77.2	228 of 1226	81.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	43.1	346 of 669	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.8	439 of 643	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.4	443 of 661	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.6	370 of 662	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.5	350 of 517	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.3	334 of 639	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.2	299 of 590	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	60.5	391 of 1229	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	487 of 1219	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.7	416 of 1234	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.5	431 of 1221	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.4	527 of 1019	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.9	411 of 1217	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.6	342 of 1161	70.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	62.8	415 of 1271	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.3	369 of 1264	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	73.8	255 of 1292	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	76.4	229 of 1286	82.2%	★★★★☆
2021	64.0	286 of 1048	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	69.7	324 of 1296	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	78.4	201 of 1223	83.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	59.6	88 of 204	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.7	95 of 184	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.5	73 of 194	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	73 of 195	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.3	81 of 179	54.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	64.3	200 of 812	75.4%	★★★★☆
2024	67.9	184 of 802	77.1%	★★★★☆
2023	68.1	160 of 805	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	46.9	288 of 781	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.3	391 of 548	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	52.5	238 of 792	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	48.1	224 of 602	62.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	53.6	398 of 884	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.8	346 of 875	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.3	239 of 895	73.3%	★★★★☆
2022	67.0	242 of 898	73.1%	★★★★☆
2021	52.9	347 of 813	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.4	319 of 905	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.5	215 of 889	75.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)75th percentile+6 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)70th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)68th percentile~ school

Female (2025)68th percentile~ school

Male (2025)67th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)57th percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)55th percentile-14 vs school

Hispanic (2025)48th percentile-21 vs school

Disabled (2025)43rd percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts60%+7 vs state

Science57%+11 vs state

Mathematics36%-3 vs state

1.0

2 ratings

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4★0

3★0

2★0

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Schools Near Cary Junior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)					IAR Mathematics (2025)					% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cary Junior High School	Public	6-8	2109 Crystal Lake Rd	Cary	60013	McHenry County	Cary CCSD 26	No	(n/a)	No	No	(224) 357-5150	761	61	12.4	28.5%	532 (69.9%)	3 (0.4%)	179 (23.5%)	12 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.5%)	65.1	424^th of 1368 public middle schools	69.0%		63.2	414^th of 1363 public middle schools	69.6%	10		56.8		59.7	54.5	64.3	59.7		37.8	40.3	30.1	35.8	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.0	98.3	98.3	96.4	$13,809	$427	$13,383
Prairie Grove Junior High School	Public	5-8	3225 IL Route 176	Crystal Lake	60014	McHenry County	Prairie Grove Central School District 46	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 459-3557	357	33	10.7	22.7%	286 (80.1%)	7 (2.0%)	40 (11.2%)	16 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.0%)	67.5	398^th of 1368 public middle schools	70.9%		60.8	439^th of 1363 public middle schools	67.8%	41	56.3	61.1	59.3	60.9	57.6	61.1	59.8	48.1	30.8	50.6	33.3	40.3	96.8	96.8	96.8	96.8	97.1	95.9	96.5	70.3	$17,552	$59	$17,494
Fox River Grove Middle School	Public	5-8	401 Orchard St	Fox River Grove	60021	McHenry County	Fox River Grove Cons School District 3	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 516-5105	174	16	11.2	20.7%	136 (78.2%)	1 (0.6%)	27 (15.5%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.6%)	57.8	514^th of 1368 public middle schools	62.4%		30.3	897^th of 1363 public middle schools	34.2%	383	41.5	58.5	65.9	60.5	46.9	53.7	56.3	41.5	27.9	26.5	41.5	33.9	98.9	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.9	98.4	98.9	71.9	$20,255	$505	$19,750
Hannah Beardsley Middle School	Public	6-8	515 E Crystal Lake Ave	Crystal Lake	60014	McHenry County	Crystal Lake CCSD 47	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 477-5897	829	59	14.0	37.8%	509 (61.4%)	18 (2.2%)	254 (30.6%)	21 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.1%)	62	467^th of 1368 public middle schools	65.9%		58.9	466^th of 1363 public middle schools	65.8%	1		52.4		52.8	57.2	60.1	56.7		26.9	41.6	39.6	36.0	98.2	98.3	98.3	98.3	97.7	97.3	98.1	98.1	$14,254	$596	$13,658
Matthews Middle School	Public	6-8	3500 Darrell Rd.	Island Lake	60042	Lake County	Wauconda CUSD 118	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 526-6210	451	39	11.4	43.7%	245 (54.3%)	8 (1.8%)	163 (36.1%)	16 (3.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.8%)	45.8	682^nd of 1368 public middle schools	50.1%		47.9	613^th of 1363 public middle schools	55.0%	69		40.3		47.1	67.4	35.5	49.8		24.1	31.5	22.1	25.9	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	95.9	$20,691	$826	$19,866
Richard F Bernotas Middle School	Public	6-8	170 N Oak St	Crystal Lake	60014	McHenry County	Crystal Lake CCSD 47	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 459-9210	737	65	11.4	28.0%	540 (73.3%)	33 (4.5%)	112 (15.2%)	25 (3.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.4%)	57.7	518^th of 1368 public middle schools	62.1%		56.3	509^th of 1363 public middle schools	62.7%	9		59.4		54.9	55.9	55.5	55.4		22.9	38.4	28.3	29.9	96.5	96.5	96.5	96.5	96.7	96.0	96.5	96.5	$15,776	$519	$15,257
Lundahl Middle School	Public	6-8	560 Nash Rd	Crystal Lake	60014	McHenry County	Crystal Lake CCSD 47	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 459-5971	797	60	13.2	35.4%	489 (61.4%)	22 (2.8%)	240 (30.1%)	19 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.4%)	52.4	589^th of 1368 public middle schools	56.9%		44.5	677^th of 1363 public middle schools	50.3%	88		50.2		49.6	47.8	58.0	51.7		27.3	39.6	20.9	29.4	98.5	98.0	98.0	98.0	97.7	98.0	98.5	98.5	$14,495	$784	$13,711
Wauconda Middle School	Public	6-8	217 Slocum Lake Rd	Wauconda	60084	Lake County	Wauconda CUSD 118	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 526-2122	506	42	11.9	33.2%	330 (65.2%)	6 (1.2%)	142 (28.1%)	16 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.4%)	64	438^th of 1368 public middle schools	68.0%		58	481^st of 1363 public middle schools	64.7%	43		60.0		57.8	52.4	55.1	55.1		38.5	35.6	40.3	38.2	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	98.0	$19,827	$826	$19,001
Algonquin Middle School	Public	6-8	520 Longwood Dr	Algonquin	60102	McHenry County	Cusd 300	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 532-7100	370	42	8.8	56.5%	179 (48.4%)	12 (3.2%)	150 (40.5%)	13 (3.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.1%)	65	427^th of 1368 public middle schools	68.8%		67.4	371^st of 1363 public middle schools	72.8%	56		50.5		56.3	55.2	65.2	58.7		42.9	38.4	33.9	38.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.6	98.2	98.4	97.2	$21,615	$384	$21,230
Lake Zurich Middle - N Campus	Public	6-8	95 Hubbard Ln	Hawthorn Woods	60047	Lake County	Lake Zurich CUSD 95	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 719-3600	697	55	12.6	23.4%	487 (69.9%)	18 (2.6%)	71 (10.2%)	88 (12.6%)	9 (1.3%)	3 (0.4%)	21 (3.0%)	91.6	96^th of 1368 public middle schools	93.0%		92.6	90^th of 1363 public middle schools	93.4%	6		68.8		81.9	77.4	77.2	78.8		65.3	63.7	61.0	63.2	98.5	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.8	98.7	98.5	96.4	$19,362	$302	$19,060

Frequently Asked Questions about Cary Junior High School

What high school do graduates of Cary Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Cary Junior High School usually go on to attend Cary-Grove Community High School

How many students attend Cary Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 761 students attended Cary Junior High School.

What district is Cary Junior High School in?

Cary CCSD 26

Is Cary Junior High School a good school?

Cary Junior High School ranks 424^th of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Cary Junior High School?

Students at Cary Junior High School are 70% White, 24% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.