Top 10 Best Illinois Public Schools (2024)

Illinois is the #4 largest school system in the United States, serving 1,867,247 students across the 4,386 public schools for the 2024 school year (there are 1,667 private schools, serving 260,233 students). 88% of all K-12 students in Illinois are educated in public schools (compared to national average of 90%).
The percentage of students achieving math proficiency in Illinois is 26%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 31%.
Minority enrollment is 53% (majority Hispanic) and the student:teacher ratio is 14:1.

Student by Ethnicity

(IL) School Average
Asian
5%
Hispanic
27%
Black
17%
White
47%
Two or more races
4%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in IL.

Top Ranked Public Schools in Illinois (2024)

School (Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Northside College Preparatory High School
Math: 94% | Reading: 95%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
5501 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-3954
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Payton College Preparatory High School
Math: 96% | Reading: 94%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 96% (Top 1%)
Reading: 94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
1034 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-0034
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Jones College Prep High School
Math: 90% | Reading: 92%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 90% (Top 1%)
Reading: 92% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
700 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
(773) 534-8600
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Young Magnet High School
Math: 91% | Reading: 91%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 91% (Top 1%)
Reading: 91% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-12
211 S Laflin St
Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 534-7500
Rank: #55.
Skinner North Elementary School
Math: 89% | Reading: 85%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 85% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-8
640 W Scott St
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-8500
Rank: #66.
Keller Elementary Gifted Magnet School
Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Grades: 1-8
3020 W 108th St
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 535-2636
Rank: #77.
Lane Technical High School
Math: 82% | Reading: 84%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 82% (Top 1%)
Reading: 84% (Top 1%)
Grades: 7-12
2501 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 534-5400
Rank: #88.
Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Cntr
Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-8
4929 N Sawyer Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-0540
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Brook Forest Elementary School
Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
60 Regent Dr
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 325-6888
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Thurgood Marshall School
Math: 82% | Reading: 82%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 82% (Top 1%)
Reading: 82% (Top 1%)
Grades: 5-8
4664 N Rockton Ave
Rockford, IL 61103
(815) 490-5400

Best Illinois Public Schools by County (2024)

County
# Schools
# Students
% Minority
23
9,134
18%
9
2,003
11%
17
9,048
48%
22
4,654
23%
8
2,125
50%
63
24,671
51%
9
2,422
5%
8
2,154
5%
20
6,076
18%
1,386
695,414
75%
42
16,257
39%
11
3,178
18%
279
142,319
49%
18
2,691
5%
9
2,514
14%
27
5,597
7%
27
12,083
26%
27
7,816
17%
24
3,905
18%
25
6,695
42%
159
89,891
61%
41
16,694
46%
43
24,006
47%
23
6,480
29%
218
127,350
55%
53
15,157
27%
18
4,014
18%
15
3,455
10%
42
15,111
43%
83
38,561
29%
31
6,373
16%
10
2,318
5%
9
2,072
20%
92
52,103
33%
59
24,259
35%
11
2,879
9%
13
5,070
6%
28
4,521
20%
27
8,300
25%
77
26,205
52%
9
2,602
12%
11
2,622
7%
12
2,374
4%
17
3,959
15%
14
3,787
13%
77
27,956
36%
12
2,418
4%
93
39,110
54%
56
19,401
11%
15
2,435
13%
42
11,298
36%
10
2,316
32%
12
2,386
5%
15
2,327
6%
207
117,908
53%
91
43,730
55%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Illinois?
How many public schools are located in Illinois?
4,386 public schools are located in Illinois.
What percentage of students in Illinois go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Illinois are educated in public schools (compared to national average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Illinois?
Minority enrollment in Illinois is 53% (majority Hispanic)

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