Top Chicago High Schools Ranked Among Nation’s Best

News Summary

Three high schools in Chicago have been recognized in the top 100 nationwide according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools rankings. Payton College Preparatory High School leads Illinois at 32nd, followed by Northside College Preparatory at 40th, and Lane Technical High School at 72nd. This marks a notable achievement for urban schools, whereas no suburban schools made the top rankings. The evaluation metrics consider student achievement, graduation rates, and college readiness indicators, highlighting the education improvements in Illinois.

Chicago — Three high schools in Chicago have been recognized among the top 100 in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools 2025-2026 rankings. This announcement comes after an extensive evaluation of over 24,000 public high schools across the United States, focusing on performance metrics that impact student success.

Leading the list for Illinois, Payton College Preparatory High School secured the 32nd position nationally, followed closely by Northside College Preparatory High School at 40th. Lane Technical High School also made the list, ranking 72nd. Notably, no suburban Chicago schools were included in the top 100 rankings.

The highest-ranking high school outside of Chicago is Aurora’s Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, which achieved a national ranking of 120. This year’s rankings reflect a slight advancement for Illinois as a state, which moved up to 22nd place from 24th last year, indicating improvements in the overall education landscape.

Evaluation Metrics

The rankings are based on six critical performance indicators, including:

• Student achievement on state-required assessments
• Graduation rates
• College readiness measures, particularly Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) participation and performance

The methodology used for these rankings was created in collaboration with RTI International, leveraging data collected from the 2022-2023 school year. This quantitative approach ensures that schools are assessed on the same key factors that can predict student success.

Illinois High School Rankings

For the complete ranking of Illinois high schools, Payton College Preparatory leads at 32nd, followed by Northside College at 40th and Lane Tech at 72nd. This ranking indicates that the Chicago high schools not only excel in academic performance but also prepare students well for college readiness through rigorous academic programs.

Broader Context

The U.S. News & World Report’s educational rankings have become a key resource for families and school districts aiming to assess and compare academic performance across a vast landscape. These rankings are particularly useful for prospective students and parents looking to understand the strengths of various high schools, especially in urban areas where educational choices can be overwhelming.

As Illinois improves its position nationally, educators and administrators are focused on continuing this upward trend. While the latest rankings celebrate the success of Chicago’s high schools, they also highlight the disparities in academic performance within the broader region, specifically noting the absence of suburban schools among the top achievers.

In summary, the recognition of these Chicago high schools emphasizes the critical role of educational quality in shaping students’ futures. The ongoing evaluation and improvement efforts by state education authorities aim to raise the standards of public education throughout Illinois, ensuring that more schools can achieve similar accolades in coming years.

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Additional Resources

• NBC Chicago
• Wikipedia: U.S. News & World Report
• Patch
• Google Search: Best High Schools
• Fox 32 Chicago
• Google Scholar: Illinois High Schools Rankings
• Hometown Register
• Encyclopedia Britannica: High School