IL's Best Public High Schools Ranked In New Analysis

ILLINOIS — Several Illinois schools are among the best public high schools in the country, according to a report released this week by Niche.

The 2025 Best Public High Schools in America ranking, released Monday, shows the best traditional public high schools in the nation, including magnet and charter schools.

Niche said its rankings, now in the 10th year, 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.

Illinois's top 10 public high schools are:

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. Jones College Prep High School
6. Adlai Stevenson High School
7. Lane Tech College Prep High School
8. Hinsdale Central High School
9. Glenbrook South High School
10. Neuqua Valley High School

Click the link to see Niche's other Illinois high school rankings.

The company 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 schools and private schools, including religious schools, among many others.

Nationally, the top 10 ranked public schools in America are:

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, North Carolina (high school for grades 11-12)
2. The Davidson Academy, Reno, Nevada (school for grades 5-12)
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science, Worcester, Massachusetts (magnet school for grades 11-12)
4. Rising Leaders Academy, Panama City, Florida (charter school for grades K-12)
5. Stuyvesant High School, New York City (high school for grades 9-12)
6. Payton College Preparatory High School, Chicago (magnet school for grades 9-12)
7. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Oklahoma City (high school or grades 11-12)
8. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics, Hartsville, South Dakota (high school for grades 11-12)
9. School for the Talented & Gifted, Dallas (magnet school for grades 9-12)

Pine View School, Osprey, Florida (magnet school for grades 2-12)