IL Public Schools Ranked Among Top 10 In The Country

Illinois was ranked among 2026’s best states for public education in a recent analysis from ConsumerAffairs.

The Prairie State came in at No. 8 in the ranking — dropping three spots compared to 2025, and falling between California at No. 7 and Virginia at No. 9.

The analysis considered K-12 academic outcomes, school funding and resources, higher education, and school safety.

Illinois' best-ranked category was higher education, where it came in at No. 6, and its worst-ranked category was K-12 academic outcomes, at No. 24.

“States with stronger tax bases, fewer socioeconomic barriers and a long history of investing in public education often have an advantage,” Tameka Royal, CEO of nonprofit charter school management company Democracy Prep Public Schools, told ConsumerAffairs.

The highest-ranked states were, in order from No. 1 to No. 5: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington.

The lowest-ranked were, from No. 50 to No. 46: Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, Louisiana and New Mexico.

Poor K-12 academic outcomes were a common thread for lower-ranked states, according to ConsumerAffairs.

“It's important to remember that statewide averages don't capture every local experience,” ConsumerAffairs reported. “A single school or district within any of these states could be far outperforming its statewide average.”

Read more from ConsumerAffairs.