For the 2025 school year, there are 1387 public schools serving 684,127 students in Cook County, IL (there are 764 private schools, serving 133,563 private students). 84% of all K-12 students in Cook County, IL are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
The top ranked public schools in Cook County, IL are Payton College Preparatory High School, Northside College Preparatory High School and Jones College Prep High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cook County, IL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Illinois public school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 30% statewide average). Schools in Cook County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of Illinois public schools.
Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cook County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Payton College Preparatory High School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1034 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-0034
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-0034
Grades: 9-12
| 1,265 students
Rank: #22.
Northside College Preparatory High School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
5501 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-3954
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-3954
Grades: 9-12
| 1,032 students
Rank: #33.
Jones College Prep High School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
700 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
(773) 534-8600
Chicago, IL 60605
(773) 534-8600
Grades: 9-12
| 1,973 students
Rank: #44.
Young Magnet High School
Magnet School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
211 S Laflin St
Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 534-7500
Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 534-7500
Grades: 7-12
| 2,221 students
Rank: #55.
Keller Elementary Gifted Magnet School
Magnet School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
3020 W 108th St
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 535-2636
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 535-2636
Grades: 1-8
| 221 students
Rank: #66.
Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
4929 N Sawyer Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-0540
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-0540
Grades: K-8
| 265 students
Rank: #77.
Lane Technical High School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
2501 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 534-5400
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 534-5400
Grades: 7-12
| 4,525 students
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Decatur Classical Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
7030 N Sacramento Ave
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 534-2201
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 534-2201
Grades: K-8
| 329 students
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Skinner North Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
640 W Scott St
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-8500
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-8500
Grades: K-8
| 512 students
Rank: #1010.
Westmoor Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
2500 Cherry Ln
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7960
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7960
Grades: PK-5
| 352 students
Rank: #1111.
Greeley Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
275 Fairview Ave
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-6060
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-6060
Grades: K-4
| 351 students
Rank: #1212.
Wescott Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1820 Western Ave
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-4660
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-4660
Grades: K-5
| 485 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Greenbriar Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
2195 Cherry Ln
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7950
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7950
Grades: K-5
| 367 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
8101 S La Salle St
Chicago, IL 60620
(773) 535-0040
Chicago, IL 60620
(773) 535-0040
Grades: PK-8
| 296 students
Rank: #1515.
Mcclure Jr High School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 82% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
4225 Wolf Rd
Western Springs, IL 60558
(708) 246-7590
Western Springs, IL 60558
(708) 246-7590
Grades: 6-8
| 448 students
Rank: #1616.
The Joseph Sears School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
542 Abbotsford Rd
Kenilworth, IL 60043
(847) 853-3803
Kenilworth, IL 60043
(847) 853-3803
Grades: PK-8
| 480 students
Rank: #1717.
New Trier Township H S Winnetka
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
385 Winnetka Ave
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-7000
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-7000
Grades: 10-12
| 2,792 students
Rank: #1818.
Shabonee School
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1000 Pfingsten Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-4970
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-4970
Grades: 3-5
| 437 students
Rank: #1919.
Romona Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
600 Romona Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 512-6400
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 512-6400
Grades: PK-4
| 479 students
Rank: #20 - 2220. - 22.
Bronzeville Classical Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
8 W Root St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-8085
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-8085
Grades: K-7
| 423 students
Rank: #20 - 2220. - 22.
Lincoln Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
511 Park Ave
River Forest, IL 60305
(708) 366-7340
River Forest, IL 60305
(708) 366-7340
Grades: K-4
| 363 students
Rank: #20 - 2220. - 22.
Northbrook Junior High School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1475 Maple Ave
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7920
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7920
Grades: 6-8
| 649 students
Rank: #2323.
Sunset Ridge Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
525 Sunset Ridge Rd
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 881-9459
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 881-9459
Grades: 4-8
| 251 students
Rank: #2424.
Forest Hills Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5020 Central Ave
Western Springs, IL 60558
(708) 246-7678
Western Springs, IL 60558
(708) 246-7678
Grades: PK-5
| 296 students
Rank: #2525.
Willowbrook Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2500 Happy Hollow Rd
Glenview, IL 60026
(847) 400-8803
Glenview, IL 60026
(847) 400-8803
Grades: PK-5
| 333 students
Rank: #2626.
Wood Oaks Jr High School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1250 Sanders Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-1900
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-1900
Grades: 6-8
| 451 students
Rank: #2727.
Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3319 N Clifton Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 534-5550
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 534-5550
Grades: K-8
| 616 students
Rank: #2828.
Glenbrook North High School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2300 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-6400
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-6400
Grades: 9-12
| 2,077 students
Rank: #2929.
Central Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
910 Central Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 512-6100
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 512-6100
Grades: K-4
| 456 students
Rank: #3030.
Marie Murphy School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2921 Illinois Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-3617
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-3617
Grades: 6-8
| 267 students
Rank: #3131.
Central School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
620 Greenwood Ave
Glencoe, IL 60022
(847) 835-7600
Glencoe, IL 60022
(847) 835-7600
Grades: 5-8
| 580 students
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Lincoln Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
615 W Kemper Pl
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 534-5720
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 534-5720
Grades: K-8
| 851 students
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Skinner Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
111 S Throop St
Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 534-7790
Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 534-7790
Grades: PK-8
| 1,049 students
Rank: #3434.
Meadowbrook Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1600 Walters Ave
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7940
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-7940
Grades: K-5
| 482 students
Rank: #3535.
Harper Elementary School
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1101 Dartmouth St
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 512-6200
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 512-6200
Grades: K-4
| 370 students
Show 100 more public schools in Cook County, IL (out of 1,387 total schools)
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Cook County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
A E R O Educational Center (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
7600 Mason Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
A.e.r.o-connect Prog-satellite (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
7600 Mason Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
A.e.r.o-functional Academy Learning (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
7600 Mason Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
A.e.r.o-star (Autism)-satellite (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
7600 Mason Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
A.e.r.o. Ec Program-satellite (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
7600 Mason Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3920
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3920
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
A.e.r.o.-comm. Develop.-satellite (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
7600 Mason Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 496-3330
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
730 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 534-6980
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 534-6980
Grades: 9-12
| 488 students
3630 S Wells St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-1660
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-1660
Grades: K-8
| 95 students
Academy For Learning (Closed 2008)
Special Education School
13813 Western Ave
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 597-8862
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 597-8862
Grades: 9-12
| 218 students
Academy For Learning (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
306 E 144th St
Dolton, IL 60419
(708) 841-1063
Dolton, IL 60419
(708) 841-1063
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
4319 West Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 626-4200
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 626-4200
Grades: 7-12
| n/a students
Ace Technical Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
5410 S State St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 548-8705
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 548-8705
Grades: 9-12
| 306 students
Ace Technical Charter High School (Closed 2006)
Charter School
1455 S Mich Ste 218
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 880-0261
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 880-0261
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
8901 South 52nd Ave
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 499-7688
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 499-7688
Grades: PK-K
| n/a students
Alop Alternative High School (Closed 2013)
Alternative School
4655 South Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-8500
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-8500
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
1340 West 71st St
Chicago, IL 60636
(773) 535-3250
Chicago, IL 60636
(773) 535-3250
Grades: PK-8
| 437 students
4747 South Winchester Ave
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 534-4276
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 534-4276
Grades: 3-8
| n/a students
6315 S Claremont Av
Chicago, IL 60636
(773) 535-9070
Chicago, IL 60636
(773) 535-9070
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
900 W Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 534-2610
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 534-2610
Grades: 8
| 36 students
5345 West Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6365
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6365
Grades: 3-6
| 95 students
Arts Of Living Alternative High School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
1855 N Sheffield Av
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 534-8586
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 534-8586
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Aspira Charter Schools (Closed 2018)
Charter School
1711 N California
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 252-0970
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 252-0970
Grades: 6-12
| 1,290 students
5055 S State St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-1270
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-1270
Grades: 2-8
| 133 students
231 N Pine Ave
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6316
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6316
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
231 N Pine Ave
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6300
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6300
Grades: 11-12
| 580 students
231 N Pine Ave
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6300
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6300
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
2945 North Sawyer Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 534-5244
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 534-5244
Grades: PK-5
| n/a students
6656 South Normal Blvd
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 535-3020
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 535-3020
Grades: PK-8
| 331 students
2755 North Marshfield Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-8070
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-8070
Grades: 7-12
| 27 students
2330 East 99th St
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 356-9988
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 356-9988
Grades: 9-12
| 241 students
819 N Leamington Ave
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 854-1188
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 854-1188
Grades: 9-12
| 65 students
2040 West Adams St
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 534-7610
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 534-7610
Grades: 9-12
| 73 students
3030 West Arthington St
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 534-6890
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 534-6890
Grades: PK-8
| 374 students
2710 S Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 534-9160
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 534-9160
Grades: 11-12
| 47 students
4946 S Paulina St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-9219
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 535-9219
Grades: 11-12
| 53 students
Show 100 more closed public schools in Cook County, IL (out of 323 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Cook County, IL?
The top ranked public schools in Cook County, IL include Payton College Preparatory High School, Northside College Preparatory High School and Jones College Prep High School.
How many public schools are located in Cook County?
1,387 public schools are located in Cook County.
What percentage of students in Cook County go to public school?
84% of all K-12 students in Cook County are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cook County?
Cook County public schools minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Illinois public schools average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Cook County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Cook County include: J Sterling Morton East High School vs. J Sterling Morton West High School, Lawn Manor School vs. Kolmar Avenue Elementary School, Lions Park Elementary School vs. Fairview Elementary School
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