Maine West High School: Top Charter School in Des Plaines IL (2026 List)

About Maine West High School

Maine West High School is a public high school in Des Plaines, Illinois. It is one of two secondary schools for grades 9 through 12 in the Maine Township High School District. It is one of three high schools in the Maine Township High School District 207. It has an enrollment of about 1,886 students with a student-teacher ratio of about 16 to 1. The school is recognized as one of the best schools in the country for academic diversity, providing strong AP opportunities with a 51% participation rate.Maine West High School has a very diverse student body with 62 % minority enrollment. The school is one of the leading schools that offers its students, including the economically challenged ones, all-inclusive resources and SAT preparation. In October 2023, the Mathematics Proficiency stood at 23% and the Reading Proficiency was at 28%. It’s a well-resourced environment for growth, with an estimated spending of over $24,000 per pupil. Ultimately it is known as one of the most reputed schools for fostering a community-focused and inclusive educational experience, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 23%

Reading 28%

State average proficiency is 23% in Math and 28% in Reading.

121

Full-time Teachers

16 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

1886

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 37.49%

Asian 10.13%

Hispanic 46.24%

Black 2.49%

Two+ Races 3.23%

Native Am. 0.21%

White

37.49%

Asian

10.13%

Hispanic

46.24%

Black

2.49%

Two+ Races

3.23%

Native Am.

0.21%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 1886

47.83%

902 Female

52.12%

983 Male

Student Population

1886 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

269 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Maine West High School Contact Information

Address

1755 S Wolf Rd, Des Plaines, IL, 60018

View on Map

Phone

(847) 827-6176

Call Now

Website

http://west.maine207.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 2:56 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Maine West High School students dominated the Chicago Metro History Day Senior Division Regional Contest in early 2025, with 18 Warriors qualifying for the Illinois History Day State Contest in categories including Individual Website, Individual Exhibit, Group Documentary, and Group Exhibit. The Westerner student newspaper earned the Northern Illinois School Press Association’s Golden Eagle Trophy for Best in Class and a Gold Certificate for Overall Excellence in April 2025, with Blue Ribbon Awards going to Max Siuchta, Elizabeth Stettner, Noah Abero, Cris Lawpattanapong, Maddie Rowland, Jake Mensching, Trino Chavez, and Kayla Garcia.

FAQ

Q1. Can students take AP classes at Maine West High School?

Ans. Yes, students can get ready for college-level work by taking Advanced Placement classes and tests.

Q2. How does Maine West High School help students get ready for their careers?

Ans. Maine West High School helps students explore and plan their careers by giving them advice, internships, and programs that connect them with career exploration and planning.

Q3. Are there any programs that are creative?

Ans. Yes, students can be creative through practical activities music, drama, and visual arts.

Q4. How does Maine West High School encourage a good environment?

Ans. To make the space safe, welcoming, and open to everyone, people are told to be respectful, work together, and be responsible.

Q5. Do students get help getting ready for college?

Ans. Yes, Students can take the SAT and ACT and get help planning for college.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say