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Woodstock High School remains best in McHenry County; Woodstock North stays in Top 5

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For the second consecutive year, Woodstock High School was ranked the top high school in McHenry County, while Woodstock North High School also made Illinois’ top 100 again, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The publication released its annual Best High Schools rankings on Aug. 18, and Woodstock High retained its 57th ranking in Illinois. Woodstock North moved up a tick in the 2026-2027 rankings to 97th. Other McHenry County high schools that earned rankings in the top 100 included Cary-Grove High School (70th), Prairie Ridge High School (82nd), and Huntley High School (86th)

Mike Moan, superintendent of Woodstock Community School District 200, said excellence is something the school community has come to expect. Moan said he’s confident that D200 staff and students will continue pushing themselves even further.

“As a unit district, we’re particularly proud of these designations because we can see the results of the educational building blocks from kindergarten through high school. Our teachers at all levels should take pride in this success at the high schools,” Moan said.

Photo of AP Biology class

Each year, U.S. News & World Report examines high school data from across the country, including student demographics, assessments, graduation rates, and AP exam performance, among other factors.

One consistent goal that D200 and high school leaders and educators share is challenging students to aim higher by taking more rigorous courses, which will better prepare them for college and the job market.

More than 50 percent of high school students have taken at least one AP exam, while nearly 60 percent have earned at least 12 college credits before graduation. In addition to AP courses, the high schools offer dozens of college-level, dual-credit courses from a broad range of subject areas.

“We know what our students are capable of accomplishing, and strive to be the launching pad for their bright futures,” Woodstock High School Principal John Liuzzi said. “We are certainly proud of our students and the teachers who prepare them each day to achieve their potential.”

Some factors that contributed to both Woodstock and Woodstock North’s high rankings included the schools’ College Readiness Illinois rankings of 56th and 80th, respectively. Both had high Graduation Rate rankings at 40th and 64th, while Woodstock North had a state ranking of 96th for its College Curriculum Breadth Index.