September 29, 2022
In Illinois, your child’s school district can determine their education. And though private schools remain a popular option, public high schools throughout the state offer plenty of free alternatives. With the rise of selective enrollment and charter schools, many public schools now outrank private — even within the city of Chicago.
Taking these all into account, the online education resource Niche has unveiled this year’s list of the best public high schools in Illinois. According to the site, this high school ranking is based on various factors: state test scores, SAT and ACT scores, student-teacher ratios, graduation rates and AP enrollment. Less quantifiable attributes, like school culture, teachers, clubs and sports, were also included, based on parent and student surveys.
Notably, of the top five, three are Chicago Public Schools.
Check out all of the top 20 public Illinois schools for yourself:
1. Payton College Preparatory High School
2. Northside College Preparatory High School
3. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
4. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
5. University of Illinois High School
6. Adlai E. Stevenson High School
7. Jones College Prep High School
8. Hinsdale Central High School
9. Lane Tech College Prep High School
10. Glenbrook South High School
11. Neuqua Valley High School
12. Glenbrook North High School
13. William Fremd High School
14. Vernon Hills High School
Vernon Hills, Ill.
15. New Trier Township High School
16. Lake Forest High School
Lake Forest, Ill.
17. Barrington High School
18. Metea Valley High School
19. James B. Conant High School
Hoffman Estates, Ill.
20. Glenbard West High School