Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge High Schools Ranked Among Best High Schools in State

Two area high schools were ranked among the top high schools in the state, according to annual rankings released Monday by U.S. News & World Report.

The Best High School rankings placed Cary-​Grove Community High School at No. 39 on the list, which was a significant jump up compared to last year when the high school was ranked as the 56th best high school in the state. Meanwhile, Prairie Ridge High School was ranked at No. 53 after not making the list last year. Crystal Lake Central and Crystal Lake South high schools did not make this year's list.

>>> 2015 Rankings: Cary-Grove Ranked Among Best High Schools in State

"The U.S. News rankings include data on more than 21,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia," states U.S. News & World Report. "Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments, their graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college."

The report includes information about curriculum, test scores and student demographics.

In the state, Northside College Preparatory High Schoolcame in first. The No. 1 high school in the U.S. rankings is the School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, Texas.

RELATED: Prairie Ridge, Cary-Grove High Schools Ranked Among Best High Schools in Nation: Newsweek

Top 25 Illinois High Schools

State ranking (national ranking)

• 1 (39) Northside College Preparatory High School, Chicago
• 2 (41) Payton College Preparatory High School, Chicago
• 3 (120) Young Magnet High School, Chicago
• 4 (130) Jones College Prep High School, Chicago
• 5 (166) Adlai E Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
• 6 (172) Lane Technical High School, Chicago
• 7 (229) Deerfield High School, Deerfield
• 8 (234) Phoenix Military Academy High School, Chicago
• 9 (272) Lindblom Math and Science Acad High School, Chicago
• 10 (356) Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale
• 11 (362) Prospect High School, Mount Prospect
• 12 (444) John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights
• 13 (452) Evanston Twp High School, Evanston
• 14 (455) Lincoln Park High School, Chicago
• 15 (478) Glenbrook South High School, Glenview
• 16 (531) Buffalo Grove High School, Buffalo Grove
• 17 (548) Highland Park High School, Highland Park
• 18 (554) Libertyville High School, Libertyville
• 19 (580) Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest
• 20 (585) Brooks College Prep Academy High School, Chicago
• 21 (588) Vernon Hills High School, Vernon Hills
• 22 (642) New Trier Township High School Winnetka, Winnetka
• 23 (652) Rolling Meadows High School, Rolling Meadows
• 24 (661) Riverside Brookfield Twp High School, Riverside
• 25 (690) St. Charles North High School, St. Charles

More Info

• Best Illinois High Schools List
• U.S. News & World Report National Rankings 2016