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Harlem High School

Q: Is Harlem High School a good school?

Harlem High School ranks 451 st of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

451^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 35% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Harlem High School is a public high school located in Machesney Park, Illinois, serving 1,947 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Harlem UD 122 school district, which is ranked 625 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Harlem High School's performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally below the state averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 35.8% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in ACT/English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 51.7%. The school's performance is also lower than the nearby Hononegah CHD High School, which consistently ranks among the top high schools in Illinois and has significantly higher test scores across all subjects and grade levels. Harlem High School also has a slightly lower four-year graduation rate and a higher dropout rate compared to the state average.

Additionally, Harlem High School has a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 25.4% to 44.0% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 49.21% to 55.78% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in recent years. While Harlem High School generally outperforms the nearby Rockford East High School, it significantly lags behind the higher-performing Hononegah CHD High School, suggesting that there may be opportunities for Harlem High School to learn from its neighbor and implement targeted interventions to improve overall outcomes.

1,884

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,561

Per pupil spending ?

54.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9229 N Alpine Rd
Machesney Park, IL 61115-1924

(815) 654-4511

District: Harlem UD 122

Feeder schools for Harlem High School:

Elementary:	Donald C Parker Early Educ Center
	Loves Park Elementary School
	Machesney Elementary School
	Maple Elementary School
	More...
	Marquette Elementary School
	Olson Park Elementary School
	Ralston Elementary School
	Rock Cut Elementary School
	Windsor Elementary School
Middle:	Harlem Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.2%

Hispanic:

16.7%

Two or more races:

8.6%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Harlem High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 58th percentile in 2023 → 35th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (36% vs 48% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 25% Illinois)

!Ranking has slipped from its 58th-percentile peak (2023) to 35th (2025)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Illinois avg48%

451^st of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Bottom 35%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 28% (2015) to bottom 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

625^th of 811Harlem UD 122 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	39.0	451 of 698	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.4	405 of 697	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.1	294 of 699	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.4	298 of 699	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.0	323 of 688	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.4	357 of 701	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.2	475 of 647	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	43.8	363 of 642	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	26.8	492 of 643	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	29.3	442 of 614	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	60.1	286 of 670	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.8	361 of 670	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	65.6	226 of 665	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	60.4	295 of 655	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.7	322 of 643	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	53.3	334 of 632	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.3	400 of 624	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.4	413 of 612	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.1	389 of 596	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	35.2	456 of 590	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	49.8	355 of 592	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	49.0	344 of 586	41.3%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.1	279 of 323	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	244 of 299	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.6	133 of 301	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.8	136 of 294	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.7	77 of 281	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	43.7	132 of 299	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	94 of 253	62.8%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	22.2	109 of 134	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.4	108 of 141	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.0	113 of 135	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.6	101 of 130	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	41.3	231 of 491	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.6	216 of 429	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.3	130 of 428	69.6%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	29.7	218 of 284	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.6	158 of 248	36.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	62.7	47 of 217	78.3%	★★★★☆
2022	30.9	153 of 205	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.7	51 of 189	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	31.3	130 of 183	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	62.3	24 of 151	84.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	39.0	435 of 685	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.8	429 of 664	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.1	295 of 656	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.3	328 of 658	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.8	263 of 639	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.3	335 of 665	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	29.7	456 of 620	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.8	226 of 366	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.2	186 of 336	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.9	92 of 333	72.4%	★★★★☆
2022	53.0	134 of 335	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.5	147 of 317	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.5	189 of 317	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	19.6	248 of 291	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.5	59 of 138	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	28.1	55 of 104	47.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	73.1	16 of 98	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	70.8	17 of 91	81.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	404 of 672	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.6	353 of 639	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.7	220 of 644	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.1	192 of 626	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.2	258 of 611	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.3	241 of 639	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.9	382 of 585	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	38.3	440 of 685	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.4	354 of 668	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.9	305 of 668	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.8	258 of 664	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.5	379 of 653	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.5	351 of 675	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.8	447 of 619	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	12.4	19 of 22	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.3	20 of 26	23.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.8	13 of 22	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.4	13 of 19	31.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.0	176 of 211	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.8	152 of 182	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.3	144 of 163	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.5	104 of 170	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.7	115 of 160	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.1	144 of 165	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.7	125 of 154	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	241 of 527	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	28.2	312 of 482	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	188 of 476	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.8	219 of 493	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.0	242 of 453	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.0	222 of 473	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.1	172 of 374	54.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	26.9	433 of 564	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.9	409 of 554	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.3	318 of 557	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.8	310 of 560	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.8	342 of 553	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.8	360 of 552	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.4	462 of 548	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2025)57th percentile+22 vs school

Special Education (2025)54th percentile+19 vs school

Disabled (2025)53rd percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)40th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)38th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)36th percentile~ school

Male (2025)36th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)23rd percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)23rd percentile-12 vs school

Asian (2023)19th percentile-39 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)17th percentile-19 vs school

Military Connected (2023)14th percentile-44 vs school

African American (2025)14th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts36%-16 vs state

Science31%-18 vs state

Mathematics25%-14 vs state

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Schools Near Harlem High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2025)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2025)		PreACT Secure Science (2025)		ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (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	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	% 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
Harlem High School	Public	9-12	9229 N Alpine Rd	Machesney Park	61115	Winnebago County	Harlem UD 122	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 654-4511	1,884	133	14.1	54.7%	1,228 (65.2%)	148 (7.9%)	314 (16.7%)	27 (1.4%)	5 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	162 (8.6%)	39	451^st of 698 public high schools	35.4%		38.4	405^th of 697 public high schools	41.9%	46	54.7	46.8	28.2	21.8	40.0	37.3	35.8	25.2	30.6	96.8	96.8	96.8	96.8	96.2	96.1	97.1	90.7	$16,561	$374	$16,187
Summit Academy TAOEP	Public	6-12	1102 Evans Ave	Machesney Park	61115	Winnebago County	Boone/Winnebago ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 636-3060	0	9	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Summit Academy RSSP	Public	6-12	1102 Evans Ave	Machesney Park	61115	Winnebago County	Boone/Winnebago ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(779) 771-6392	0	9	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Summit Academy ALOP	Public	9-12	1102 Evans Ave	Machesney Park	61115	Winnebago County	Boone/Winnebago ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 636-3060	0	10	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Winnebago County Detention Center	Public	6-12	5350 Northrock Dr	Rockford	61103	Winnebago County	Rockford School District 205	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 516-2980	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Career Educ Assoc of N Central IL	Public	11-12	300 Heart Blvd	Loves Park	61111	Winnebago County	Boone/Winnebago ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 636-3060	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Guilford High School	Public	9-12	5620 Spring Creek Rd	Rockford	61114	Winnebago County	Rockford School District 205	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 654-4870	2,216	114	19.5	58.7%	783 (35.3%)	641 (28.9%)	542 (24.5%)	72 (3.2%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	174 (7.9%)	27.6	519^th of 698 public high schools	25.6%		31.4	463^rd of 697 public high schools	33.6%	56	43.7	43.0	12.1	12.5	28.3	34.4	34.9	21.6	34.9	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	97.8	$14,307	$961	$13,345
Roosevelt Center	Public	9-12	978 Haskell Ave	Rockford	61103	Winnebago County	Rockford School District 205	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 966-3251	60	44	1.3	83.3%	7 (11.7%)	26 (43.3%)	15 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (20.0%)								(n/a)										100.0	99.8	99.8	99.8	99.8	99.8	100.0	96.0	$20,114	$1,335	$18,779
Rockford East High School	Public	9-12	2929 Charles St	Rockford	61108	Winnebago County	Rockford School District 205	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 229-2100	1,719	105	16.3	71.6%	458 (26.6%)	521 (30.3%)	507 (29.5%)	89 (5.2%)	12 (0.7%)	2 (0.1%)	130 (7.6%)	12.1	612^th of 698 public high schools	12.3%		18.2	567^th of 697 public high schools	18.7%	45	33.7	29.7	6.3	6.1	22.5	25.8	15.9	7.8	17.7	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.6	$16,293	$1,109	$15,184
Hononegah CHD High School	Public	9-12	307 Salem St	Rockton	61072	Winnebago County	Hononegah CHD 207	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 624-5008	1,814	110	16.4	24.7%	1,427 (78.7%)	34 (1.9%)	210 (11.6%)	22 (1.2%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	119 (6.6%)	92.2	46^th of 698 public high schools	93.4%		94.6	48^th of 697 public high schools	93.1%	2	81.8	71.9	58.8	60.8	71.7	70.0	73.8	66.1	64.1	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.6	98.0	98.2	96.2	$16,660	$346	$16,314

Frequently Asked Questions about Harlem High School

What is the racial makeup of Harlem High School?

Students at Harlem High School are 65% White, 17% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 8% African American, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Harlem High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,884 students attended Harlem High School.

What schools feed into Harlem High School?

Harlem High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Donald C Parker Early Educ Center
Elementary : Loves Park Elementary School
Elementary : Machesney Elementary School
Elementary : Maple Elementary School
Elementary : Marquette Elementary School
Elementary : Olson Park Elementary School
Elementary : Ralston Elementary School
Elementary : Rock Cut Elementary School
Elementary : Windsor Elementary School
Middle : Harlem Middle School

Is Harlem High School a good school?

Harlem High School ranks 451^st of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Harlem High School in?

Harlem UD 122

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Schools in Machesney Park, IL

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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.