Suburban High Schools Shine in U.S. News’ Illinois Rankings

Several suburban high schools in Illinois have received high marks in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual assessment rankings, showcasing their commitment to academic excellence.

The national news organization analyzed data from 673 schools in Illinois, out of over 17,600 nationwide, and evaluated them based on various criteria including college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, and graduation rate.

Leading the rankings in Illinois were five City of Chicago selective-enrollment high schools, with Lincolnshire’s Adlai Stevenson High School coming in sixth, the highest-ranking school outside of Chicago.

“We are proud and humbled to learn that Stevenson High School has been once again named to U.S. News and World Report’s list of top public high schools,” said Superintendent Eric Twadell in a statement. “This honor is shared by many, including our exceptional teachers who are the beating heart of our school community.”

Other notable schools in the top rankings included Vernon Hills High School at eighth place and New Trier High School at tenth. The next group of schools in the top 20 included Hinsdale Central, Libertyville, Fremd High School, Lake Forest High School, Neuqua Valley, Deerfield High School, Hersey High School, Glenbrook North, and Barrington.

Despite the high rankings, some school districts like District 207 expressed skepticism about the rankings, emphasizing the importance of considering other impactful factors in students’ lives beyond academic performance.

Overall, the rankings highlight the dedication and success of suburban high schools in providing quality education and preparing students for future success.