Illinois's Best High Schools Ranked In New Analysis

Several Illinois schools are among the best high schools in the country, according to a ranking released Monday by Niche.

For its 2027 Best Schools and Districts in America rankings, Niche analyzed 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools and 11,000 school districts nationwide.

The best public high schools in Illinois are:

1. Payton College Preparatory High School, Chicago
2. Northside Preparatory High School, Chicago
3. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora
4. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago
5. Lane Tech College Prep School, Chicago
6. Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
7. Jones College Prep High School, Chicago
8. New Trier Township High School
9. Glenbrook South High School, Glenview
10. Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook
11. Neuqua Valley High School, Naperville
12. Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale
13. Vernon Hills High School, Vernon Hills
14. William Fremd High School, Palatine
15. Evanston Township High School, Evanston
16. Metea Valley High School, Aurora
17. Highland Park High School, Highland Park
18. John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights
19. Naperville North High School, Naperville
20. Barrington High School, Barrington
21. James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates
22. Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora
23. Naperville Central High School, Naperville
24. Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest
25. York Community High School, Elmhurst

See the Niche's list of the best public high schools in Illinois.

The best private high schools are:

1. Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest
2. British International School of Chicago, South Loop
3. North Shore Country Day School, Winnetka
4. The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Chicago
5. Francis W. Parker School, Chicago
6. Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest
7. Lycée Français de Chicago, Chicago
8. Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Skokie
9. Saint Ignatius College Prep, Chicago
10. Naperville Christian Academy, Naperville
11. Latin School of Chicago, Chicago
12. Beacon Academy, Evansston
13. Fenwick High School, Oak Park
14. Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, Deerfield
15. Wolcott College Prep, Chicago
16. Academy High, Champaign
17. Bennett Day School, Chicago
18. The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Chicago
19. Morgan Park Academy, Chicago
20. Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette
21. Loyola Academy, Wilmette
22. Christian Heritage Academy, Northfield
23. Daystar Academy, Chicago
24. Benet Academy, Lisle
25. Governor French Academy, Bellevilla

See the Niche's list of the best private high schools in Illinois.

Niche’s rankings combine federal and state data, school statistics, and over 3 million reviews from students, parents, and teachers to evaluate schools beyond test scores.

This year's updates feature methodology improvements and new standalone rankings for public and private schools. To offer clearer comparisons, Niche separated public and private lists for Best Schools for the Arts, Most Diverse Schools, Best College Prep Schools, and Best Teachers. Two rankings also received purpose-built methodologies for the first time. Best Boarding High Schools and Best Private Online High Schools both now include factors specific to their school type.

“Families deserve a complete view of their options, whether they’re evaluating schools in their area or exploring what’s available elsewhere,"” Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said in a news release. “This year’s rankings give families more ways to find the right fit, with updates designed to help them find schools where their children will thrive.”

Niche also provides rankings by state, metro area, STEM and arts programs, K-8 schools, and more, giving families the flexibility to compare schools based on what matters most to them.