Best High Schools in Chicago, IL

High schools
325
Students
420,569
Avg actual
37%
Avg projected
26%
Impact
don't meet expectations

The top high schools in Chicago, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Young Magnet High School

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

59%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 2148 Students

2. Illinois Mathematics And Science

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

63%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Il Mathematics & Science Academy • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 628 Students

3. Northside College Preparatory Hs

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

57%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1040 Students

4. Payton College Preparatory Hs

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

57%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1233 Students

5. Lane Technical High School

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

57%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 4496 Students

6. Jones College Prep High School

A+

SchoolGrade

89%

Actual Test Scores

48%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1941 Students

7. Glenbrook North High School

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

72%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Glenbrook Hsd 225 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2062 Students

8. Taft High School

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

44%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 4464 Students

9. New Trier Township H S Winnetka

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

82%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

New Trier Twp Hsd 203 • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 2856 Students

10. Hinsdale Central High School

A+

SchoolGrade

85%

Actual Test Scores

70%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Hinsdale Twp Hsd 86 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2472 Students

Best Middle Schools in Chicago, IL

Middle schools
358
Students
210,392
Avg actual
49%
Avg projected
30%
Impact
meet expectations

The top middle schools in Chicago, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Butler Junior High School

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

66%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Butler Sd 53 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 190 Students

2. Daniel Wright Jr High School

A+

SchoolGrade

87%

Actual Test Scores

70%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Lincolnshire-prairieview Sd 103 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 764 Students

3. Maple School

A+

SchoolGrade

87%

Actual Test Scores

66%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Northbrook/glenview Sd 30 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 414 Students

4. Wood Oaks Jr High School

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

67%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Northbrook Esd 27 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 475 Students

5. Hickory Creek Middle School

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

50%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Frankfort Ccsd 157c • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 910 Students

6. Northbrook Junior High School

A+

SchoolGrade

85%

Actual Test Scores

64%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Northbrook Sd 28 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 631 Students

7. Kennedy Junior High School

A+

SchoolGrade

85%

Actual Test Scores

57%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Naperville Cusd 203 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 931 Students

8. Marie Murphy School

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

57%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Avoca Sd 37 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 276 Students

9. Deer Path Middle Sch West

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

60%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Lake Forest Sd 67 • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 402 Students

10. Clarendon Hills Middle School

A+

SchoolGrade

84%

Actual Test Scores

66%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Hinsdale Ccsd 181 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 540 Students

Best Elementary Schools in Chicago, IL

Elementary schools
1,970
Students
712,037
Avg actual
43%
Avg projected
29%
Impact
meet expectations

The top elementary schools in Chicago, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr

A+

SchoolGrade

96%

Actual Test Scores

63%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 267 Students

2. Decatur Classical Elem School

A+

SchoolGrade

96%

Actual Test Scores

62%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 323 Students

3. Skinner North Elem Sch

A+

SchoolGrade

94%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 490 Students

4. Oak Elem School

A+

SchoolGrade

94%

Actual Test Scores

72%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Hinsdale Ccsd 181 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 381 Students

5. Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

94%

Actual Test Scores

47%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 604 Students

6. Keller Elem Gifted Magnet School

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

59%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

City Of Chicago Sd 299 • Public • Grades 1 - 8 • 213 Students

7. Mckenzie Elem School

A+

SchoolGrade

91%

Actual Test Scores

65%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Wilmette Sd 39 • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 444 Students

8. Meadow Glens Elementary School

A+

SchoolGrade

91%

Actual Test Scores

60%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Naperville Cusd 203 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 504 Students

9. Sheridan Elem School

A+

SchoolGrade

90%

Actual Test Scores

60%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Lake Forest Sd 67 • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 264 Students

10. Lincoln Elem School

A+

SchoolGrade

89%

Actual Test Scores

54%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

River Forest Sd 90 • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 350 Students

Education & Community Snapshot in Chicago, IL

City-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.

Community Factors

Chicago, IL has a total population of 9,449,351 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 89%, and 40% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Students in Chicago, IL

1,407,599

K-12 Students

High School Graduates

89%

Adults 25+ with HS diplomas

College Graduates

40%

Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher

Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Chicago, IL.

Safety

Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.

Overall Crime Grade

C-

18.18 per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crime Grade

C

3.10 per 1,000 Residents

Property Crime Grade

C-

15.08 per 1,000 Residents

Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Chicago, IL.

Connectivity

Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Chicago, IL.

ISP Report Card

B

Internet Infrastructure Grade

Average Download Speed

2,543 Mbps

Speed Most Residents Can Get

Digital Connectivity Index

74 / 100

ISP Connectivity Demand Report

To read more about these statistics, please visit Chicago, IL Internet Health Assessment.

Questions About Schools in Chicago, IL

How many schools are in Chicago, IL?

Chicago, IL has 2,890 public schools: 325 high schools, 358 middle schools and 1,970 elementary schools, serving 1,407,599 students in total.

How do schools in Chicago perform on state tests?

On average, 2,890 schools in Chicago score 43% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 29%, so on average schools in Chicago meet expectations.

How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Chicago?

Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.

Best Schools in Cities Near Chicago, IL

Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.

Cicero, IL

  • Actual: 29%
  • Projected: 12%
  • Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Oak Park, IL

  • Actual: 69%
  • Projected: 39%
  • Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Berwyn, IL

  • Actual: 39%
  • Projected: 18%
  • Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Stickney, IL

  • Actual: 33%
  • Projected: 13%
  • Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Forest Park, IL

  • Actual: 35%
  • Projected: 19%
  • Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Forest View, IL

  • Actual: 39%
  • Projected: 16%
  • Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
River Forest, IL

  • Actual: 57%
  • Projected: 38%
  • Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Riverside, IL

  • Actual: 61%
  • Projected: 36%
  • Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Elmwood Park, IL

  • Actual: 32%
  • Projected: 14%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
North Riverside, IL

  • Actual: 55%
  • Projected: 29%
  • Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Every school in Chicago

Average SchoolGrade
D+
Meeting or exceeding expectations
41%
Exceeding
22%
Avg actual scores
27.6%
Avg projected
15.9%

619 of 633 schools in Chicago carry a SchoolGrade (14 have no school-level proficiency results in our source data). Grade distribution:

A: 60B: 44C: 94D: 286F: 135

All 633 public schools we grade in Chicago. The ranked lists above show the top ten per level; every school has its own page.

High schools (103)

Middle and junior high schools (8)

Elementary and primary schools (428)

Other schools and academies (94)

Private schools (217)

Private schools have a SchoolGrade only where their state publishes their test results.

Neighborhoods and places within Chicago (137)