These Are The Best School Districts In IL, New Ranking Says

ILLINOIS — The top three school districts in the state of Illinois are also ranked 1, 2, 3 in the United States in Niche’s 2025 Best Schools and Districts rankings released Monday. In ranking order, Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 (Lincolnshire), Glenbrook High School District 225 (Glenview), and Evanston Township High School District 202 (Evanston).

The three districts were among 201 Illinois school districts that earned a mention in Niche's ranking of more than 11,000 school districts nationwide.

Niche gave the Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 a letter grade of A+. Grades in specific categories were:

Academics: A+
Teachers: A+
Clubs and activities: A+
Sports: A
Resources and facilities: A+
Diversity: B+
College prep: A+
Administration: A+
Food: A+

The school district, which has 4,489 students in one campus, received high marks from students, parents and teachers. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 72 percent of students at Stevenson are at least proficient in math and 72 percent in reading.

In addition, Stevenson was ranked No. 4 in Illinois fort both Best Districts To Teach and Districts with the Best Teachers In Illinois.

For more information, read the full report on Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 here.

The top 25 school districts in Illinois and the letter grades assigned by Niche include:

1. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125, A+
2. Glenbrook High School District 225, A+
3. Evanston Township High School District 202, A+
4. Township High School District 113, A+
5. Hinsdale Township High School District 86, A+
6. Community High School District 128, A+
7. Township High School District 211, A+
8. Niles Township Community High School District 219, A+
9. Barrington Community Unit School District 220, A+
10. Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204, A+
11. Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203, A+
12. Township High School District No. 214, A+
13. New Trier Township High School District No. 203, A+
14. Isu Laboratory Schools, A+
15. Community High School District No. 155, A+
16. Elmhurst School District No. 205, A+
17. Grayslake Community High School District No. 127, A+
18. Lincoln-Way Community High School District No. 210, A+
19. Community Unit School District No. 200, A+
20. Glenbard Township High School District No. 87, A+
21. Community High School District No. 99, A+
22. Consolidated High School District No. 230, A+
23. Maine Township High School District No. 207, A+
24. St. Charles Community Unit School District No. 303, A+
25. Community Unit School District No. 201, A+

The top five school districts nationwide are concentrated in two states, Illinois and New York. They are:

1. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 (Illinois)
2. Glenbrook High School District 225 (Illinois)
3. Evanston Township High School District 202 (Illinois)
4. East Williston Union Free School District (New York)
5. Syosset Central School District (New York)

The 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.