These Are The Best Middle Schools In Illinois: U.S. News Ranking

Young Magnet High School is the best public middle school in Illinois, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News researchers based the 2026 ranking of the nation’s best public middle schools on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. The researchers ranked more than 23,000 middle schools in its 2026 report, which was released Tuesday.

These Are The Top Elementary Schools In IL, U.S. News Says In New Ranking

The top 25 public middle schools in Illinois are:

1. Young Magnet High School, Chicago, serves grades 7-12
2. Lane Technical High School, Chicago, serves grades 7-12
3. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center, Chicago, serves grades K-8
4. Decatur Classical Elementary School, Chicago, serves grades K-8
5. Skinner North Elementary School, Chicago, serves grades K-8
6. Thurgood Marshall School, Rockford, serves grades 5-8
7. Reservoir Gifted School, Peoria, serves grades 5-8
8. Taft High School, Chicago, serves grades 7-12
9. Hickory Creek Middle School, Frankfort, serves grades 6-8
10. Sunset Ridge Elementary School, Northfield, serves grades 4-8
11. Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire, serves grades 6-8
12. Kennedy Junior High School, Lisle, serves grades 6-8
13. Northbrook Junior High School, Northbrook, serves grades 6-8
14. Lincoln Elementary School, Chicago, serves K-8
15. Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy, Chicago, serves K-8
16. Central School, Glencoe, serves grades 5-8
17. Marie Murphy School, Wilmette, serves grades 6-8
18. Teutopolis Junior High School, Teutopolis, serves grades 7-8
19. Maple School, Northbrook, serves grades 6-8
20. Clarendon Hills Middle School, Clarendon Hills, serves grades 6-8
21. University of Illinois High School, Urbana, serves grades 7-12
22. Highcrest Middle School, Wilmette, serves grades 5-6
23. Butler Junior High School, Oak Brook, serves grades 6-8
24. Twin Groves Middle School, Buffalo Grove, serves grades 6-8
25. Mcclure Junior High School, Western Springs, serves grades 6-8

The ranking methodology considered student proficiency in math and reading/language arts state assessments, adjusting for student backgrounds and core subject achievements. In cases of ties, student-teacher ratios were used as a deciding factor.

The rankings are intended as an evaluation tool to give parents a snapshot of how well schools provide a high-quality education and prepare students for a successful future, LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release.