Crystal Lake, IL·D155
Homes in the
Crystal Lake Central HS district.
A short walk from the lakefront and downtown Main Street, the Crystal Lake Central area pairs a hundred-year-old hometown high school with one of McHenry County's most walkable downtowns.
- Homes for sale
- 57
- Typical list
- $439,990
- Most expensive
- $1,875,000
- Most affordable
- $197,500
225 Edgewater Drive →
566 Somerset Lane →
Tigers · Orange & Black · 1,498 students · Fox Valley Conference
Active listings
57 homes on the market
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Market snapshot
The Crystal Lake Central HS area, by the numbers
Live MRED data, refreshed daily. What this market is actually doing right now, sales included, not a portal estimate.
Homes for sale now
83
Typical list price
$425,000
Avg time on market
17 days
Sold in the last year
219
Typical sale price · last 90 days
$382,500
Living near Crystal Lake Central HS
The area, not just the school
Life around Crystal Lake Central is centered on the thing the town is named for: Crystal Lake itself, a clear spring-fed lake that anchors the community. The city's Main Beach and the namesake lake are open whenever the weather cooperates, and the park district runs more than 40 parks and recreation areas, including the 140-acre Veteran Acres Park and the 305-acre Lippold Park. On the south side of town, the former gravel quarries have filled in to create the Three Oaks Recreation Area, which opened to recreation in 2010 and has become one of the most popular destinations in Crystal Lake.
Just up from the lake, downtown Crystal Lake is a genuine walkable Main Street district, the kind of place that in 2016 was reported to have zero retail vacancies. The area grew up around the railroad in the 1850s, and that connection to Chicago is still a daily convenience: the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line stops at the Crystal Lake and Pingree Road stations, carrying commuters straight to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, with Pace bus service filling in around town.
For drivers, the city sits about 45 miles northwest of Chicago and roughly a 45-minute drive from O'Hare, with quick access to U.S. Route 14, Illinois Route 176, and Illinois Route 31. The result is a settled, established feel near the lake and downtown: tree-lined neighborhoods within walking or biking distance of the beach, the parks, the train, and the shops, all served by a high school that has been part of the community since 1924.
🏫Est. 1924
The oldest high school in District 155.
🐯Tigers
School colors are orange and black, Fox Valley Conference.
🏆State champions
Titles include 2007 girls volleyball, 2024 boys baseball, and 2024 girls soccer.
🚆Metra commute
UP-NW line stops at Crystal Lake and Pingree Road for a one-seat ride downtown.
🏖️Lake and beach
Crystal Lake and Main Beach anchor the town, with Three Oaks on the south side.
🛍️Walkable downtown
A Main Street district reported to have zero retail vacancies in 2016.
The school
About Crystal Lake Central High School
Crystal Lake Central opened in 1924 as Crystal Lake Community High School and is the oldest of the high schools in Crystal Lake. Before it was built, area students attended Union School beginning in 1884, and the first graduating class moved into the new building only about a month before graduation. The school grew with additions in 1928, a 1953 fieldhouse wing, and a west-end expansion in the mid-1960s. It was renamed Crystal Lake Central in 1978 when Crystal Lake South opened, and today it remains one of the four comprehensive high schools in Community High School District 155.
Crystal Lake Central offers a comprehensive 9 to 12 curriculum with more than 200 courses, including Advanced Placement, dual credit, Project Lead the Way, and Virtual Enterprises International. The school has been named among the nation's best high schools by U.S. News and World Report, recognized by Niche as part of the best district in McHenry County, and named a Top STEM High School by Newsweek.
The Crystal Lake Central Tigers compete in the Fox Valley Conference. The Tigers captured their first individual state title in 1942 and have since earned IHSA state titles across several sports. Banner moments include an undefeated 2007 girls volleyball state championship, a 2024 boys baseball Class 3A title, and a 2024 girls soccer state championship.
- District
- D155
- Founded
- 1924
- Principal
- Carson Sterchi
- Conference
- Fox Valley Conference
- Address
- 45 W Franklin Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Trophy case
- 🏆 Girls Volleyball Class 3A · 2007
- 🏆 Boys Baseball Class 3A · 2024
- 🏆 Girls Soccer · 2024
- 🏆 Boys Cross Country · 1995
- 🏆 Dance Team · 2013
- 🏆 Competitive Cheer · 2022
Notable alumni
- Sean Evans. Interviewer best known as host of the YouTube series Hot Ones.
- Tom Amandes. Actor known for Everwood and The Untouchables.
- Elaine Bradley. Drummer and vocalist for the band Neon Trees.
- Mike Myers. Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Yankees and Red Sox.
- John Bock. Former NFL center for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
- Grace Kinstler. 2021 American Idol contestant who finished in third place.
Facts on this page sourced from Wikipedia and the District D155 website. Last verified 2026-06-26.
Other schools in D155
More in the district
Neighborhoods that feed Crystal Lake Central HS
Communities in the Crystal Lake Central HS area
Homes in these neighborhoods are zoned to Crystal Lake Central HS. Open one to see what is for sale there right now.
Listings filtered by the school the MRED listing agent assigned. Roughly 7 in 10 active listings have this field populated; the remaining listings will surface once the school-district boundary pipeline ships. School assignment is not a guarantee. Always verify with the district before writing an offer.
The questions buyers actually ask
Crystal Lake Central HS FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping the Crystal Lake Central HS district. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What high school serves the central and downtown Crystal Lake area?
- Crystal Lake Central High School, one of four high schools in Community High School District 155. The others are Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge, and Cary-Grove. Boundary lines can shift, so confirm with the district before you make an offer based on schools.
- How long has the school been around?
- Since 1924, when it opened as Crystal Lake Community High School. It is the oldest high school in District 155.
- Is Crystal Lake Central a well-regarded school?
- Yes. It has been named among the nation's best high schools by U.S. News and World Report and a Top STEM High School by Newsweek, and Niche has ranked District 155 the best district in McHenry County.
- Can I commute to Chicago from this part of Crystal Lake?
- Yes. The Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line stops at the Crystal Lake and Pingree Road stations, running to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the area sits near U.S. Route 14 about 45 miles from the city.
- What is there to do near the school?
- Crystal Lake and Main Beach, the Three Oaks Recreation Area, a walkable downtown Main Street, and a park district with more than 40 parks including Veteran Acres and Lippold Park.
- How do I find homes that actually feed Crystal Lake Central?
- The listings on this page are filtered to homes whose MRED listing agent assigned Crystal Lake Central as the high school. That is the most accurate signal available without district-issued boundary files, and assignment can change year to year, so always confirm with D155 before you write an offer based on schools. If you want alerts for new homes in the district, text 224-385-8779.
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This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC for the period July 21, 2025 through July 21, 2026. Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC does not guarantee nor is it in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.