Illinois is the 21st state to enter the United States and is located in the Midwestern region. It consists of 102 counties and is divided into eight districts for local government. Each county has its own elected officials, including a board of county commissioners, a sheriff, a prosecutor, and other elected officials. Illinois also has 852 school districts that are responsible for providing public education from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The largest school district in Illinois is the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This district serves all 102 counties across the state and offers a wide variety of educational resources for students from pre-K through grade 12. ISBE employs over 115,000 teachers and staff members across 5,000 schools in Illinois‘ public school system. ISBE works closely with numerous other government entities such as the State Board of Education (SBOE) and the University of Illinois System (UIS). These entities provide additional educational resources to students by offering college preparatory classes, special education services, career counseling programs, after-school activities, and more.
There are many public and private high schools in the state of Illinois. It is rather difficult for you to choose one that fits you most. In order for you to better evaluate your choice, we have ranked these high schools based on latest SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates, and state test scores from the Illinois Department of Education. See below for top 72 high schools throughout the state of Illinois.
| # | High Schools | Honor |
| 1 |
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Adlai E Stevenson District 125 School District Lake County 1 Stevenson Dr Lincolnshire, IL 60069 Telephone: (847) 634-4000 |
Silver |
| 2 |
Alton High School
Alton Community Unit School District 11 School District Madison County 4200 Humbert Rd Alton, IL 62002 Telephone: (618) 474-2700 |
Bronze |
| 3 |
Barrington High School
Barrington Community Unit School District 220 School District Lake County 616 W Main St Barrington, IL 60010 Telephone: (847) 381-1400 |
Silver |
| 4 |
Belleville High School-West
Belleville Township High School District 201 School District St. Clair County 4063 Frank Scott Pky Belleville, IL 62223 Telephone: (618) 222-7610 |
Bronze |
| 5 |
Bloomington High School
Bloomington School District 87 School District McLean County 1202 E Locust St Bloomington, IL 61701 Telephone: (309) 828-5201 |
Bronze |
| 6 |
Blue Ridge High School
Blue Ridge Community Unit School District 18 School District De Witt County 411 N John St Farmer City, IL 61842 Telephone: (309) 928-2622 |
Bronze |
| 7 |
Brooks College Preparatory Academy
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 250 E 111th St Chicago, IL 60628 Telephone: (773) 535-9930 |
Silver |
| 8 |
Carbondale Community High School
Carbondale Community High School District 165 School District Jackson County 1301 E Walnut St Carbondale, IL 62902 Telephone: (618) 457-3371 |
Bronze |
| 9 |
Century High School
Century Community Unit School District 100 School District Pulaski County 4721 Shawnee Clge Rd Ullin, IL 62992 Telephone: (618) 845-3518 |
Bronze |
| 10 |
Charleston High School
Charleston Community Unit School District 1 School District Coles County 1603 Lincoln Charleston, IL 61920 Telephone: (217) 639-5000 |
Bronze |
| 11 |
Chicago Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 3400 N Austin Ave Chicago, IL 60634 Telephone: (773) 534-0146 |
Silver |
| 12 |
Chicago Military Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 3519 S Giles Ave Chicago, IL 60653 Telephone: (773) 534-9750 |
Bronze |
| 13 |
Curie Metropolitan High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 4959 S Archer Ave Chicago, IL 60632 Telephone: (773) 535-2100 |
Bronze |
| 14 |
Deerfield High School
Township High School District 113 School District Lake County 1959 Waukegan Rd Deerfield, IL 60015 Telephone: (224) 632-3000 |
Silver |
| 15 |
Dongola High School
Dongola Unit School District 66 School District Union County RR 1 Box 190 Dongola, IL 62926 Telephone: (618) 827-3524 |
Bronze |
| 16 |
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. College Preparatory High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 4445 S Drexel Blvd Chicago, IL 60653 Telephone: (773) 535-1180 |
Silver |
| 17 |
Dunlap High School
Dunlap Community Unit School District 323 School District Peoria County PO Box 365 Dunlap, IL 61525 Telephone: (309) 243-7751 |
Silver |
| 18 |
Effingham High School
Effingham Community Unit School District 40 School District Effingham County 1301 W Grove Ave Effingham, IL 62401 Telephone: (217) 540-1100 |
Bronze |
| 19 |
Evanston Township High School
Evanston Twp Hsd 202 School District Cook County 1600 Dodge Ave Evanston, IL 60204 Telephone: (847) 424-7200 |
Silver |
| 20 |
GCMS High School
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District 5 School District Ford County 815 N Church St Gibson City, IL 60936 Telephone: (217) 784-4292 |
Bronze |
| 21 |
Glenbrook North High School
Northfield Township High School District 225 School District Cook County 2300 Shermer Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 Telephone: (847) 272-6400 |
Silver |
| 22 |
Glenbrook South High School
Northfield Township High School District 225 School District Cook County 4000 W Lake Ave Glenview, IL 60025 Telephone: (847) 729-2000 |
Silver |
| 23 |
Griggsville-Perry High School
Griggsville-Perry Community Unit School District 4 School District Pike County PO Box 439 Griggsville, IL 62340 Telephone: (217) 833-2352 |
Bronze |
| 24 |
Herrin High School
Herrin Community Unit School District 4 School District Williamson County 700 N 10th St Herrin, IL 62948 Telephone: (618) 942-6606 |
Bronze |
| 25 |
Hinsdale Central High School
Hinsdale Township High School District 86 School District DuPage County 55th and Grant St Hinsdale, IL 60521 Telephone: (630) 570-8000 |
Silver |
| 26 |
Hinsdale South High School
Hinsdale Township High School District 86 School District DuPage County 7401 Clarendon Hills Darien, IL 60561 Telephone: (630) 468-4000 |
Silver |
| 27 |
Hubbard High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 6200 S Hamlin Ave Chicago, IL 60629 Telephone: (773) 535-2200 |
Bronze |
| 28 |
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy School District Kane County 1500 W Sullivan Rd Aurora, IL 60506 Telephone: (630) 907-5053 |
Honorable Mention |
| 29 |
John Hersey High School
Township High School District 214 School District Cook County 1900 E Thomas Ave Arlington Heights, IL 60004 Telephone: (847) 718-4800 |
Silver |
| 30 |
Jones College Prep
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 606 S State St Chicago, IL 60605 Telephone: (773) 534-8600 |
Gold: #99 of 100 |
| 31 |
Joppa Junior & Senior High School
Joppa-Maple Grove Unit District 38 School District Massac County PO Box 10 Joppa, IL 62953 Telephone: (618) 543-7589 |
Bronze |
| 32 |
Kenwood Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 5015 S Blackstone Ave Chicago, IL 60615 Telephone: (773) 535-1350 |
Silver |
| 33 |
Kewanee High School
Kewanee Community Unit School District 229 School District Henry County 1211 E 3rd St Kewanee, IL 61443 Telephone: (309) 853-3328 |
Bronze |
| 34 |
Lake Forest High School
Lake Forest Community High School District 115 School District Lake County 1285 N McKinley Rd Lake Forest, IL 60045 Telephone: (847) 234-3600 |
Silver |
| 35 |
Lake View High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 4015 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60613 Telephone: (773) 534-5440 |
Silver |
| 36 |
Lane Tech College Prep High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 2501 W Addison St Chicago, IL 60618 Telephone: (773) 534-5400 |
Silver |
| 37 |
Libertyville High School
Community High School District 128 School District Lake County 708 W Park Ave Libertyville, IL 60048 Telephone: (847) 327-7000 |
Silver |
| 38 |
Lincoln Park High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 2001 N Orchard St Chicago, IL 60614 Telephone: (773) 534-8130 |
Silver |
| 39 |
Lincolnwood High School
Panhandle Community Unit School District 2 School District Montgomery County PO Box 110 Raymond, IL 62560 Telephone: (217) 229-4237 |
Bronze |
| 40 |
Lyons Township High School
Lyons Township High School District 204 School District Cook County 100 S Brainard Ave La Grange, IL 60525 Telephone: (708) 579-6300 |
Silver |
| 41 |
Macomb Senior High School
Macomb Community Unit School District 185 School District McDonough County 1525 South Johnson Street Macomb, IL 61455 Telephone: (309) 837-2331 |
Bronze |
| 42 |
Maine South High School
Maine Township High School District 207 School District Cook County 1111 S Dee Rd Park Ridge, IL 60068 Telephone: (847) 825-7711 |
Silver |
| 43 |
Marissa Junior & Senior High School
Marissa Community Unit School District 40 School District St. Clair County 300 School View Dr Marissa, IL 62257 Telephone: (618) 295-2393 |
Bronze |
| 44 |
Morrison High School
Morrison Community Unit School District 6 School District Whiteside County 643 Genesee Ave Morrison, IL 61270 Telephone: (815) 772-4071 |
Bronze |
| 45 |
Naperville Central High School
Naperville Community Unit District 203 School District DuPage County 440 Aurora Ave Naperville, IL 60540 Telephone: (630) 420-6422 |
Silver |
| 46 |
Naperville North High School
Naperville Community Unit District 203 School District DuPage County 899 N Mill St Naperville, IL 60563 Telephone: (630) 420-6484 |
Silver |
| 47 |
New Trier Township High School (Winnetka)
New Trier Township High School District 203 School District Cook County 385 Winnetka Ave Winnetka, IL 60093 Telephone: (847) 446-7000 |
Silver |
| 48 |
Noble Street Charter High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 1010 N Noble St Chicago, IL 60622 Telephone: (773) 862-1449 |
Bronze |
| 49 |
North High School
Community High School District 99 School District DuPage County 4436 Main St Downers Grove, IL 60515 Telephone: (630) 795-8400 |
Silver |
| 50 |
Northside College Preparatory High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 5501 N Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL 60625 Telephone: (773) 534-3954 |
Gold: #37 of 100 |
| 51 |
Oblong High School
Oblong Community Unit School District 4 School District Crawford County 700 S Range St Oblong, IL 62449 Telephone: (618) 592-4235 |
Bronze |
| 52 |
Palatine High School
Township High School District 211 School District Cook County 1111 N Rohlwing Rd Palatine, IL 60074 Telephone: (847) 755-1610 |
Silver |
| 53 |
Pearl City High School
Pearl City Community Unit School District 200 School District Stephenson County PO Box 9 Pearl City, IL 61062 Telephone: (815) 443-2715 |
Bronze |
| 54 |
Princeville High School
Princeville Community Unit School District 326 School District Peoria County 302 Cordis Ave Princeville, IL 61559 Telephone: (309) 385-4660 |
Bronze |
| 55 |
Prospect High School
Township High School District 214 School District Cook County 801 W Kensington Rd Mount Prospect, IL 60056 Telephone: (847) 718-5200 |
Silver |
| 56 |
Prosser Career Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 2148 N Long Ave Chicago, IL 60639 Telephone: (773) 534-3200 |
Bronze |
| 57 |
Ramsey High School
Ramsey Community Unit School District 204 School District Fayette County 716 W 6th St Ramsey, IL 62080 Telephone: (618) 423-2333 |
Bronze |
| 58 |
Rich East Campus High School
Rich Township High School District 227 School District Cook County 300 Sauk Trl Park Forest, IL 60466 Telephone: (708) 679-6100 |
Bronze |
| 59 |
South Beloit Senior High School
Winnebago County School District 320 School District Winnebago County 245 Prairie Hill Rd South Beloit, IL 61080 Telephone: (815) 389-9004 |
Bronze |
| 60 |
St. Charles North High School
Saint Charles Community Unit School District 303 School District Kane County 255 Red Gate Rd Saint Charles, IL 60175 Telephone: (630) 443-5700 |
Silver |
| 61 |
Thornton Township High School
Thornton Township High School District 205 School District Cook County 15001 Broadway Harvey, IL 60426 Telephone: (708) 225-4101 |
Bronze |
| 62 |
Tri-Valley High School
Tri Valley Community Unit School District 3 School District McLean County 503 E Washington St Downs, IL 61736 Telephone: (309) 378-2911 |
Bronze |
| 63 |
University Laboratory High School
University of Illinois Lab School School District Champaign County 1212 W Springfield Urbana, IL 61801 Telephone: (217) 333-2870 |
Honorable Mention |
| 64 |
Urbana High School
Urbana School District 116 School District Champaign County 1002 S Race St Urbana, IL 61801 Telephone: (217) 384-3524 |
Bronze |
| 65 |
Vernon Hills High School
Community High School District 128 School District Lake County 145 N Lakeview Pkwy Vernon Hills, IL 60061 Telephone: (847) 932-2000 |
Silver |
| 66 |
Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 5039 N Kimball Ave Chicago, IL 60625 Telephone: (773) 534-5100 |
Silver |
| 67 |
Walter Payton College Prep Math, Science, and World Language Academy
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 1034 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60610 Telephone: (773) 534-0034 |
Gold: #96 of 100 |
| 68 |
Watseka Community High School
Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9 School District Iroquois County 138 S Belmont Ave Watseka, IL 60970 Telephone: (815) 432-2486 |
Bronze |
| 69 |
Wheaton North High School
Community Unit School District 200 School District DuPage County One Falcon Way Wheaton, IL 60187 Telephone: (630) 784-7300 |
Silver |
| 70 |
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Community Unit School District 200 School District DuPage County 1993 Tiger Trail Rd Wheaton, IL 60187 Telephone: (630) 784-7200 |
Silver |
| 71 |
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Chicago Public Schools (District 299) School District Cook County 211 S Laflin St Chicago, IL 60607 Telephone: (773) 534-7500 |
Silver |
| 72 |
William Fremd High School
Township High School District 211 School District Cook County 1000 S Quentin Rd Palatine, IL 60067 Telephone: (847) 755-2610 |
Silver |
