These Are The Best Elementary And Middle Schools In IL: U.S. News

ILLINOIS — More than 3,200 elementary and middle schools in Illinois have been ranked among the best in the state, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States. With 2,038 ranked elementary schools, Illinois ranked 5th in the nation, behind California, Texas, New York and Florida. The state came in 3rd for ranked middle schools, with 1,243 — behind only California and Texas.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

U.S. News ranked Skinner North Elementary in Chicago as the best elementary school statewide. Young Magnet High School was the best middle school in the state, according to U.S. News.

Here’s a look at how other Illinois elementary schools ranked:

1. Skinner North Elementary School, Chicago SD 299
2. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center, Chicago SD 299
3. Decatur Classical Elementary School, Chicago SD 299
4. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center, Chicago SD 299
5. Meadow Glens Elementary School, Naperville CUSD 203
6. Iles Elementary School, Springfield SD 186
7. Mcdade Elementary Classical School, Chicago SD 299
8. Greeley Elementary School, Winnetka SD 26
9. Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Rockford SD 205
10. Aviston Elementary School, Aviston SD 21

And here are U.S. News' best Illinois middle schools:

1. Young Magnet High School, Chicago SD 299
2. Thurgood Marshall School, Rockford SD 205
3. Lane Technical High School, Chicago SD 299
4. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center, Chicago SD 299
5. Skinner North Elementary School, Chicago SD 299
6. Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire-Prairieview SD 103
7. Stem Partnership School, Stem Partnership School
8. Washington Gifted School, Peoria SD 150
9. Maple School, Northbrook/Glenview SD 30
10. Hickory Creek Middle School, Frankfort CCSD 157C

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.