11 Illinois high schools rank among America's best, according to US News (2024)

FAQs

What is the #1 ranked high school in Illinois? ›

Walter Payton College Preparatory High School was ranked as the No. 1 high school in Illinois, followed by Northside College Preparatory High School at No. 2. Rounding out the top five were Young Magnet High School at No.

Lake Forest Academy

#1 Best Private High Schools in Illinois.

Adlai E Stevenson Hsd 125

#1 Best School Districts in Illinois.

Under Governor Ron DeSantis' leadership, Florida continues to be the national leader in education. The ranking methodology uses a variety of metrics to measure the overall quality of each state's education system from prekindergarten through higher education.

Regardless, current member schools of the Big 10 are: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State, University of Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

More than 40 percent of Illinois elementary-school students are unable to do grade-level work in math and reading. And 46 percent of Illinois high-school students are unable to do grade-level work in math and reading.

In total, one out of every 20 Harvard freshmen attended one of the seven high schools most represented in the class of 2017—Boston Latin, Phillips Academy in Andover, Stuyvesant High School, Noble and Greenough School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Trinity School in New York City, and Lexington High School.

What's the hardest high school in America? ›

Notably, Western Illinois University has been recognized as the most affordable public institution to attend in Illinois for 2023.

Peoria High, founded in 1856, is the oldest public high school in Illinois, the second oldest high school in continuous operation in the country west of the Alleghenies.

Architectural Digest has named Lake Forest High School the most beautiful public high school building in the state.

Payton College Preparatory High School

#1 Best Public High Schools in Chicago Area.

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So.... what Illinois school is the hardest to get into and one of the most difficult in the country? Standing at #1 most difficult in Illinois and #13 in the country, the University of Chicago has some pretty high expectations when it comes to its students.