Illinois' Best High Schools: New Rankings Released

ILLINOIS —Several schools in Illinois are among America’s best, according to rankings released Tuesday by the education platform Niche.

The new 2023 Best Schools and Districts rankings provide insight for parents on 92,743 public schools, 30,112 private schools, and 11,820 school districts nationwide.

Here are the top 25 public high schools in Illinois, according to Niche:

• Payton College Prep, Chicago
• Northside College Prep, Chicago
• Illinois Math and Science Academy, Chicago
• Whitney M. Young, Chicago
• University of Illinois High School, Urbana
• Adlai Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
• Jones Prep High School, Chicago
• Hinsdale Central High School
• Lane Tech College Prep High School, Chicago
• Glenbrook South High School
• Neuqua Valley High School
• Glenbrook North High School
• William Fremd High School
• Vernon Hills High School
• New Trier High School
• Lake Forest High School
• Barrington High School
• Metea Valley High School (Indian Prairie District)
• James B. Conant High School
• Glenbard West High School
• Naperville North High School
• Naperville Central High School
• Deerfield High School
• Highland Park High School
• Waubonsie Valley High School

Here are the top 15 private high schools in Illinois, according to Niche:

• University of Chicago Lab Schools, Chicago
• Lake Forest Academy
• Latin School of Chicago
• North Shore Country Day School, Winnetka
• British International School of Chicago
• Roycemore School, Evanston
• Francis W. Parker, Chicago
• Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest
• Lycee Francais High School, Chicago
• Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, Deerfield
• St. Ignatius College Prep, Chicago
• Beacon Academy, Evanston
• Northridge Prep, Niles
• Elgin Academy
• Morgan Park Academy, Chicago

You can view the full rankings here.

Several Illinois schools also ranked among the top in the nation, with Payton College Preparatory ranking No. 2 nationally, Northside College Preparatory ranking at No. 5, and Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy ranking at No. 6.

Niche said its rankings differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that it also includes input from students, alumni, and parents, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources, and facilities.

Niche named the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina, the top public school. Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, is the best private school.

Niche said its rankings were created to provide families with valuable information — both quantitative and qualitative — on schools in their area or in a neighborhood they’re not familiar with yet.

As in previous years, the Best Schools rankings include categories for boarding, charter, and magnet schools as well as schools for STEM and the arts among many others.

Check back with Patch this week for coverage of Illinois' best school districts.