New Study Names Illinois’ Best Public And Private High Schools

Every parent wants to send their kid (or kids) into the best possible learning environment they can find. And according to a new set of rankings, Illinois is loaded with high schools, both public and private, that fit the bill.

Niche has just released its 2027 Best Schools and Districts in America rankings, and there are plenty of Illinois schools to choose from if you're looking for an impressive academic résumé.

Among public high schools, Chicago's Payton College Preparatory High School takes the top spot in Illinois, followed by Northside Prep and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora. Whitney Young, Lane Tech, Stevenson in Lincolnshire, Jones College Prep and New Trier are also among the state's top eight public high schools.

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And, It Doesn't Stop There

Glenbrook South, Glenbrook North, Neuqua Valley, Hinsdale Central, Vernon Hills, Fremd, Evanston Township, Metea Valley and Highland Park all make Illinois' top 17. Barrington, Naperville North, Naperville Central, Lake Forest and York in Elmhurst round out Niche's top 25 public high schools in the state.

On the private-school side, Lake Forest Academy lands at #1 in Illinois, followed by the British International School of Chicago and North Shore Country Day School. The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Francis W. Parker, Woodlands Academy, Saint Ignatius and Fenwick are among the other familiar names making the top 25.

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A Lot Of Schools Were Looked At To Come Up With Rankings

Niche says its 2027 rankings cover more than 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools and 11,000 school districts across the country. The rankings combine academic and school data with more than three million reviews from students, parents and teachers.

And Niche has made some changes this year, including separating several rankings into public and private categories and using more current state-level assessment data for public schools.

So if you're an Illinois parent trying to figure out where your high-schooler might get a great education, the good news is you don't necessarily have to send them halfway across the country.

There are some pretty impressive options right here at home.