School districts and property values are entirely interdependent. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, for every $1 spent on school funding, nearby home values increase by about $20. And as any parent can tell you, schools are a top — if not the top — consideration when buying a new home.
However, in the Chicagoland area, there are also many non-neighborhood school options. Among them, private schools, charter schools and CPS selective enrollment schools. Taking these all into account, Stacker has revealed this year’s high school rankings, based on statistics from the online education resource Niche. Niche uses various factors to determine the best of the best. Academics weighs the most heavily, deriving from statistics like state test assessments, SAT and ACT test scores, graduation rates and AP enrollment. Less quantifiable attributes, like culture and diversity, teachers, clubs, health and safety, resources, facilities and sports, are based on parent and student surveys. According to the diverse set of data, these are the best Illinois schools.
Private schools
No. 25: Wolcott College Prep
Chicago, Ill.
No. 24: Ida Crown Jewish Academy
Skokie, Ill.
No. 23: GEMS World Academy Chicago
Chicago, Ill.
No. 22: Benet Academy
Lisle, Ill.
No. 21: Keith Country Day School
Rockford, Ill.
No. 20: Fenwick High School
Oak Park, Ill.
No. 19: Loyola Academy
Wilmette, Ill.
No. 18: The Chicago Academy for the Arts
Chicago, Ill.
No. 17: The Einstein Academy
Elgin, Ill.
No. 16: Elgin Academy
Elgin, Ill.
No. 15: Christian Heritage Academy
Northfield, Ill.
No. 14: Northridge Preparatory School
Niles, Ill.
No. 13: Morgan Park Academy
Chicago, Ill.
No. 12: St. Ignatius College Prep
Chicago, Ill.
No. 11: Lycée Français de Chicago
Chicago, Ill.
No. 10: Rochelle Zell Jewish High School
Deerfield, Ill.
No. 9: Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart
Lake Forest, Ill.
No. 8: Beacon Academy
Evanston, Ill.
No. 7: Francis W. Parker School
Chicago, Ill.
No. 6: Roycemore School
Evanston, Ill.
No. 5: British International School of Chicago, South Loop
Chicago, Ill.
No. 4: North Shore Country Day
Winnetka, Ill.
No. 3: Latin School of Chicago
Chicago, Ill.
No. 2: Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest, Ill.
No. 1: University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Chicago, Ill.
Public schools
No. 25: Libertyville High School
Libertyville, Ill., Community High School District 128
No. 24: Evanston Township High School
Evanston, Ill., Evanston Township High School District No. 202
No. 23: Naperville North High School
Naperville, Ill., Evanston Township High School District No. 202
No. 22: Naperville Central High School
Naperville, Ill., Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203
No. 21: James B. Conant High School
Hoffman Estates, Ill., Township High School District No. 211
No. 20: Metea Valley High School
Aurora, Ill., Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204
No. 19: Glenbard West High School
Glen Ellyn, Ill., Glenbard Township High School District No. 87
No. 18: Highland Park High School
Highland Park, Ill., Township High School District No. 113
No. 17: Deerfield High School
Deerfield, Ill., Township High School District No. 113
No. 16: Lane Tech College Prep High School (formerly Lane Technical High School)
Chicago, Ill., Chicago Public Schools
No. 15: University of Illinois High School
Urbana, Ill.
No. 14: William Fremd High School
Palatine, Ill., Township High School District No. 211
No. 13: Lake Forest High School
Lake Forest, Ill., Lake Forest Community High School District 115
No. 12: Neuqua Valley High School
Naperville, Ill., Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204
No. 11: Vernon Hills High School
Vernon Hills, Ill., Community High School District 128
No. 10: Glenbrook South High School
Glenview, Ill., Glenbrook High Schools District 225
No. 9: New Trier Township High School
Winnetka, Ill. New Trier Township High School District No. 203
No. 8: Hinsdale Central High School
Hinsdale, Ill., Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86
No. 7: Glenbrook North High School
Northbrook, Ill. Glenbrook High Schools District 225
No. 6: Jones College Prep High School
Chicago, Ill., Chicago Public Schools
No. 5: Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Chicago, Ill., Chicago Public Schools
No. 4: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Lincolnshire, Ill., Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125
No. 3: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Aurora, Ill.
No. 2: Northside College Preparatory High School
Chicago, Ill., Chicago Public Schools
No. 1: Payton College Preparatory High School
Chicago, Ill., Chicago Public Schools