Schools
These Are The Best School Districts In Chicago-Metro Area, New Ranking Says
The 2026 Best Public High School Districts in America ranking by Niche evaluated more than 400 public high school districts nationwide.
One of the most important considerations of Chicago-Metro area parents when choosing a place to live is the quality of the school district.
According to the 2026 Best School Districts in America list recently released by the education ranking service Niche, the best school district in the Chicago area is Glenbrook High School District 225. Both Glenbrook South and North earned A+ rankings in academics, teachers, clubs and activities, college prep and administration, and a B+ for diversity.
“If you're looking for a school with less than three hours of homework daily, this might not be the place for you,” a student wrote in a review on Niche.
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Another student said:
“I am a sophomore at [Glenbrook South] who plays 2 sports (Football and Lacrosse) and I also partake in student council. The environment at this school truly sets me up for success in the future. Every faculty member wants the best for their students.”
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Other school districts in the Chicago-Metro area that earned an “A-” or better grade are, in the order ranked, are:
#2 - New Trier Township High School Dist. 203 (Northfield) A+
#5 -Township High School Dist. 113 (Highland Park) A+
#6 - Community High School Dist. 128 (Vernon Hills) A+
#8 - Hinsdale Township High School Dist. 86 (Hinsdale) A+
#22 - Township High School Dist. 211 (Palatine) A+
#33 - Niles Township Community High School Dist. 219 (Skokie) A+
#36 - Indian Prairie Community Unit High School Dist. 204 (Aurora) A+
#38 - Barrington Community Unit School Dist. 220 (Barrington) A+
#51 - Naperville Community Unit School Dist. 203 (Naperville) A+
#53 - Township High School Dist. 214 (Arlington Heights) A+
Niche said its rankings, now in the 11th 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.
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