WESTMONT, IL — Westmont High School has added to its list of state and national recognitions, including a No. 8 ranking in Illinois on the University of Chicago's 5Essentials Survey, the school said in a news release.
The survey ranking reflects school culture, leadership, collaborative teachers, supportive environment, ambitious instruction and involved families. The rankings are based on anonymous feedback from students and staff members across Illinois.
Westmont also reported another strong year in Advanced Placement coursework. During the 2025-2026 school year, students completed 699 AP examinations, with approximately 70 percent earning scores of 3, 4 or 5. Those scores can qualify students for potential college credit and advanced placement opportunities.
The school said those results are expected to again earn Westmont High School the AP Platinum with Access Recognition from the College Board. The school said that would make Westmont the only regular public high school in Illinois to receive AP Platinum recognition in consecutive years.
The recognition is tied not only to AP results, but also to access. According to the school, the distinction honors schools that produce strong AP outcomes while also providing broad access to rigorous coursework.
Westmont reported that its performance extends beyond AP classes. The school ranks in the top 1 percent of Illinois high schools for student growth and in the top 2 percent for overall proficiency, and it is among the state's highest-performing schools on the ACT, according to the school.
The school also said it has earned the Illinois State Board of Education's Exemplary designation every year the rating has been awarded. That designation places the school among Illinois' top-performing schools for academic performance and student outcomes, according to the school.
Westmont said nearly 40 percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch services. The school described that figure as part of its broader effort to make sure socioeconomic status does not limit access to academic opportunities.
The school has also received national recognition for its work in Professional Learning Communities. According to the news release, Westmont was named an Ambassador Model PLC at Work School and received the DuFour Award, which recognizes top PLC schools in the United States.
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