LZHS is ranked number 37 in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report, and has moved up four places since the last list was released in 2013.

“I think that a lot of our students are quite driven. The fact that I’ve gotten to know majority of my fellow students within [my] honors and AP classes shows that there are a lot of people at Lake Zurich striving for excellence and not just striving to just be passing by. I think that’s something that can make Lake Zurich in the top 40,” Emma Wenckowski, junior and necy year’s Student Council President, said.

The relationships made in high schools and how the students interact is one factor that is used to determine high school’s rankings and according to Wenckowski, “especially this year, we’ve seen a lot of school pride.” Therefore, continuing to better the school’s atmosphere after ranked on previous years.

“The fact that we had the stands filled for our basketball team when we went to Conference was cool,” Wenckowski said. “Another one that was really cool was the volleyball game that they did in honor of Mrs. Amos. It’s a boys volleyball game on a Wednesday night, but because one of our students was trying to do something to help one in need, we all just surrounded Nate and were just so supportive. Just to have that spirit in a school can make the environment a lot better for students.”

In agreement with Wenckowski that the support seen this past 2015-2016 school year was an amazing accomplishment for the overall school, Kent Nightlinger, principal, says “the students are just as much a part of that ranking as anyone.”         

“It says a lot about the students. You guys come into the doors, you’re motivated, you know what you want, you come in, and work very hard to accomplish your own goals,” Nightlinger said.

Though adults and faculty, like Nightlinger, believe being ranked thirty-seven is “impressive,” some students do not understand that how the high school is ranked so highly.

“I think sometimes we get it stuck in our head that we are so beneath [some] other schools and it’s nice to know that we’re doing something right in the whole, big picture when we stop looking at the tiny section that we’re in and look at the entire state,” Wenckowski said. “That’s when we see how accomplished Lake Zurich and its students and its teachers are. That, I think, can be really empowering for the people within the walls.”

When it comes to school districts or organizations, according to Nightlinger, “you always want to be higher” and “everyone can always improve upon themselves,” but LZHS is continually “always looking at how we can improve upon things.”

“It really takes everyone as a part of the school community,” Nightlinger said. “In order to make this a good institution.”