Western Springs Schools: District 101 and Lyons Township (2026)

Schools are a primary reason families pay a premium for Western Springs, and the setup here is refreshingly simple compared to some neighbors: one small K-8 district entirely within the village, feeding into one large, highly regarded high school. Here’s how it works and what’s worth knowing.

District 101: small, in-village, top-rated

Western Springs elementary and middle schoolers attend Western Springs School District 101, a K-8 district whose four schools are all located in Western Springs (per District 101):

• Field Park, Forest Hills, and John Laidlaw (K-5 elementary schools)
• McClure Junior High (grades 6-8), which all three elementaries feed into

It’s a compact district (roughly 1,400 students) with a low student-teacher ratio. The Illinois Report Card has placed District 101 schools in the “Commendable” to “Exemplary” range (the state’s top designations), and McClure Junior High is regularly cited among the stronger middle schools in Illinois (per Western Springs School District 101). On GreatSchools, the individual schools rate in roughly the 7-to-9 range, though those numbers shift, so check the live page for any specific school.

Lyons Township High School: large, two campuses

For high school, Western Springs feeds Lyons Township High School (LTHS), part of District 204, located in nearby La Grange. It’s one of the better-regarded public high schools in the region, and it’s notably large, with two campuses: a South Campus for freshmen and sophomores and a North Campus for juniors and seniors (per Niche).

The ratings are strong across the board:

• GreatSchools: 10/10 (per GreatSchools)
• Niche: A+ overall
• US News: roughly #39 in Illinois
• A graduation rate near 96% and an average ACT around 29.

The two-campus structure is a real feature to weigh: students change campuses partway through high school. Some families love the underclass/upperclass separation; others prefer a single-campus experience. Worth understanding before you decide.

What it means for you

• Western Springs offers a strong, fully in-village K-8 district, so unlike some towns, you’re not navigating a confusing district split here.
• The high school is a large, top-rated, two-campus school. If a smaller high school matters to you, factor that in.
• As always, confirm the exact attendance assignment for a specific address, especially near district edges.

The bottom line

Western Springs pairs a small, high-performing in-village K-8 district with one of the area’s strong large high schools. Schools are a genuine draw here and a big part of why inventory moves so fast. Just go in understanding the two-campus LTHS structure, and confirm the specific assignment for any address.

Buying into Western Springs for the schools? Tell us your priorities and budget and we’ll point you to the parts of the village that fit, with the school facts for each, before you tour.

Frequently asked questions

What school district is Western Springs in?

Western Springs is served by Western Springs School District 101 (K-8) for elementary and middle school, and Lyons Township High School District 204 for high school. District 101’s four schools are all in the village.

What high school does Western Springs go to?

Lyons Township High School (LTHS) in La Grange, a large, highly rated school (GreatSchools 10/10, Niche A+) with two campuses: South for freshmen and sophomores, North for juniors and seniors.

Are Western Springs schools good?

Yes. District 101 schools rate in the “Commendable” to “Exemplary” range on the Illinois Report Card, and Lyons Township High School is among the better public high schools in the region. Schools are a major reason demand here is high.

How many schools are in Western Springs District 101?

Four, all in the village: Field Park, Forest Hills, and John Laidlaw (K-5), plus McClure Junior High (grades 6-8).

Keep reading

• Western Springs property taxes: how Cook County is different
• The best neighborhoods in Western Springs
• What $600K, $900K, and $1.2M buy in Western Springs

About Chicago Estates Co
We focus on Chicago’s western suburbs: Naperville, Hinsdale, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Western Springs, and the towns around them. These guides come from close, current research into the specific markets we cover, including real school boundaries and ratings, with one goal: straight answers most real-estate sites won’t give you.

Last updated: June 2026. School ratings and assignments change; confirm current figures with the districts before you rely on them.

Photo: “Lyons Township High School Reber Center” by Madman2001 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: source