The Best Public Schools in the Suburbs
Our new, expanded rankings of the top performers in the city and suburbs
Top Suburban Cook County High Schools
| Enrollment | Spending per pupil | SAT reading attainment %* | SAT math attainment %* | Graduation rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Trier Township High School | Winnetka | 2,934 | $15,913 | 80 | 77 | 98 |
| 2 | Glenbrook North High School | Northbrook | 1,988 | $13,730 | 76 | 77 | 98 |
| 3 | Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy | Forest Park | 792 | $8,742 | 82 | 73 | 100 |
| 4 | Glenbrook South High School | Glenview | 3,067 | $13,730 | 68 | 67 | 98 |
| 5 | William Fremd High School | Palatine | 2,594 | $11,304 | 69 | 71 | 98 |
| 6 | Oak Park and River Forest High School | Oak Park | 3,370 | $15,783 | 62 | 56 | 94 |
| 7 | Prospect High School | Mount Prospect | 2,150 | $12,004 | 71 | 67 | 96 |
| 8 | Maine South High School | Park Ridge | 2,397 | $12,963 | 65 | 66 | 97 |
| 9 | John Hersey High School | Arlington Heights | 1,864 | $12,004 | 73 | 68 | 90 |
| 10 | Evanston Township High School | Evanston | 3,459 | $11,900 | 56 | 52 | 92 |
| 11 | James B. Conant High School | Hoffman Estates | 2,349 | $11,304 | 51 | 59 | 97 |
| 12 | Niles West High School | Skokie | 2,435 | $15,257 | 48 | 46 | 95 |
| 13 | Lyons Township High School | La Grange | 4,000 | $11,425 | 60 | 59 | 96 |
| 14 | Schaumburg High School | Schaumburg | 2,116 | $11,304 | 49 | 58 | 95 |
| 15 | Niles North High School | Skokie | 2,059 | $15,257 | 47 | 45 | 93 |
| 16 | Lemont High School | Lemont | 1,404 | $10,655 | 60 | 56 | 97 |
| 17 | Rolling Meadows High School | Rolling Meadows | 1,900 | $12,004 | 52 | 56 | 94 |
| 18 | Hoffman Estates High School | Hoffman Estates | 1,907 | $11,304 | 39 | 41 | 93 |
| 19 | Palatine High School | Palatine | 2,587 | $11,304 | 37 | 41 | 92 |
| 20 | Elk Grove High School | Elk Grove Village | 1,935 | $12,004 | 43 | 44 | 97 |
Top Suburban Cook County Elementary and Middle Schools
| Grades | Enrollment | Spending per pupil | PARCC reading attainment % | PARCC math attainment % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlefork School | Northfield | K–3 | 202 | $16,191 | 75 | 83 |
| 2 | Central Elementary School | Wilmette | K–4 | 459 | $9,409 | 73 | 80 |
| 3 | Shabonee School | Northbrook | 3–5 | 430 | $12,703 | 83 | 79 |
| 4 | The Joseph Sears School | Kenilworth | PK–8 | 451 | $14,545 | 82 | 74 |
| 5 | Thomas Dooley Elementary School | Schaumburg | K–6 | 470 | $9,057 | 87 | 78 |
| 6 | Marie Murphy School | Wilmette | PK, 6–8 | 284 | $11,182 | 84 | 78 |
| 7 | Wood Oaks Junior High School | Northbrook | 6–8 | 429 | $12,703 | 85 | 72 |
| 8 | McKenzie Elementary School | Wilmette | K–4 | 446 | $9,409 | 67 | 69 |
| 9 | Greenbriar Elementary School | Northbrook | K–5 | 402 | $13,117 | 66 | 62 |
| 10 | Campanelli Elementary School | Schaumburg | K–6 | 538 | $9,057 | 74 | 76 |
| 11 | Sunset Ridge School | Northfield | 4–8 | 272 | $16,191 | 76 | 71 |
| 12 | Maple School | Northbrook | 6–8 | 384 | $11,610 | 78 | 78 |
| 13 | L.J. Hauser Junior High School | Riverside | 6–8 | 598 | $9,083 | 71 | 63 |
| 14 | Spring Avenue Elementary School | La Grange | K–6 | 320 | $9,190 | 75 | 70 |
| 15 | Avoca West Elementary School | Glenview | K–5 | 452 | $11,182 | 69 | 66 |
| 16 | Michael Collins Elementary School | Schaumburg | K–6 | 767 | $9,057 | 75 | 66 |
| 17 | Meadowbrook Elementary School | Northbrook | K–5 | 403 | $13,117 | 65 | 77 |
| 18 | Grove Avenue Elementary School | Barrington | K–5 | 553 | $9,816 | 81 | 76 |
| 19 | Ivy Hill Elementary School | Arlington Heights | K–5 | 639 | $8,040 | 69 | 70 |
| 20 | South Elementary School | Des Plaines | K–5 | 221 | $11,110 | 63 | 70 |
Top DuPage County High Schools
| Enrollment | Spending per pupil | SAT reading attainment %* | SAT math attainment %* | Graduation rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hinsdale Central High School | Hinsdale | 2,786 | $12,849 | 79 | 75 | 94 |
| 2 | Naperville Central High School | Naperville | 2,815 | $8,898 | 70 | 74 | 97 |
| 3 | Lisle High School | Lisle | 480 | $12,474 | 57 | 57 | 99 |
| 4 | Downers Grove North High School | Downers Grove | 2,186 | $11,819 | 63 | 67 | 96 |
| 5 | Naperville North High School | Naperville | 2,676 | $8,898 | 67 | 67 | 99 |
Top DuPage County Elementary and Middle Schools
| Grades | Enrollment | Spending per pupil | PARCC reading attainment % | PARCC math attainment % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prospect School | Clarendon Hills | K–5 | 397 | $10,907 | 76 | 78 |
| 2 | Butler Junior High School | Oak Brook | 6–8 | 194 | $10,340 | 83 | 77 |
| 3 | Walker School | Clarendon Hills | K–5 | 268 | $10,907 | 71 | 86 |
| 4 | Madison School | Hinsdale | K–5 | 433 | $10,907 | 85 | 73 |
| 5 | Mill Street Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 660 | $8,898 | 64 | 67 |
| 6 | Meadow Glens Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 475 | $8,898 | 86 | 86 |
| 7 | Elmwood Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 680 | $8,898 | 66 | 64 |
| 8 | Elm School | Burr Ridge | K–5 | 294 | $10,907 | 85 | 73 |
| 9 | Ellsworth Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 251 | $8,898 | 81 | 66 |
| 10 | Highlands Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 509 | $8,898 | 79 | 78 |
Top Kane County High Schools
| Enrollment | Spending per pupil | SAT reading attainment %* | SAT math attainment %* | Graduation rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Charles North High School | St. Charles | 2,022 | $8,194 | 63 | 67 | 98 |
| 2 | St. Charles East High School | St. Charles | 2,512 | $8,194 | 56 | 57 | 96 |
| 3 | Batavia High School | Batavia | 1,899 | $8,100 | 56 | 60 | 95 |
| 4 | Geneva Community High School | Geneva | 1,933 | $7,197 | 62 | 62 | 98 |
| 5 | Kaneland High School | Maple Park | 1,313 | $7,590 | 47 | 39 | 97 |
Top Kane County Elementary and Middle Schools
| Grades | Enrollment | Spending per pupil | PARCC reading attainment % | PARCC math attainment % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Rose Elementary School | St. Charles | K–5 | 531 | $8,194 | 66 | 71 |
| 2 | Lincoln Elementary School | St. Charles | PK–5 | 238 | $8,194 | 64 | 51 |
| 3 | Bell Graham Elementary School | St. Charles | K–5 | 397 | $8,194 | 65 | 64 |
| 4 | Algonquin Lakes Elementary School | Algonquin | K–5 | 457 | $6,296 | 66 | 59 |
| 5 | Thompson Middle School | St. Charles | 6–8 | 1,641 | $8,194 | 69 | 54 |
| 6 | Lily Lake Grade School | Maple Park | K–5 | 214 | $6,380 | 76 | 63 |
| 7 | Wredling Middle School | St. Charles | 6–8 | 1,299 | $8,194 | 67 | 57 |
| 8 | Louise White School | Batavia | K–5 | 366 | $8,100 | 49 | 54 |
| 9 | Corron Elementary School | South Elgin | K–5 | 435 | $8,194 | 51 | 56 |
| 10 | Prairie Knolls Middle School | Elgin | 6–7 | 642 | $6,380 | 69 | 56 |
Top Lake County High Schools
| Enrollment | Spending per pupil | SAT reading attainment %* | SAT math attainment %* | Graduation rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vernon Hills High School | Vernon Hills | 1,400 | $14,590 | 72 | 74 | 98 |
| 2 | Deerfield High School | Deerfield | 1,622 | $15,086 | 79 | 73 | 97 |
| 3 | Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Lincolnshire | 4,185 | $11,891 | 78 | 82 | 97 |
| 4 | Libertyville High School | Libertyville | 1,917 | $14,590 | 77 | 76 | 97 |
| 5 | Highland Park High School | Highland Park | 1,995 | $15,086 | 70 | 65 | 94 |
Top Lake County Elementary and Middle Schools
| Grades | Enrollment | Spending per pupil | PARCC reading attainment % | PARCC math attainment % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walden Elementary School | Deerfield | K–5 | 471 | $10,180 | 88 | 86 |
| 2 | Ravinia Elementary School | Highland Park | K–5 | 232 | $10,533 | 84 | 77 |
| 3 | Daniel Wright Junior High School | Lincolnshire | 6–8 | 666 | $9,094 | 88 | 82 |
| 4 | Butterfield School | Libertyville | PK–5 | 527 | $7,912 | 68 | 67 |
| 5 | Ivy Hall Elementary School | Buffalo Grove | 1–5 | 438 | $8,741 | 74 | 78 |
| 6 | Lake Bluff Elementary School | Lake Bluff | PK–5 | 570 | $10,137 | 63 | 56 |
| 7 | Wilmot Elementary School | Deerfield | K–5 | 510 | $10,180 | 77 | 74 |
| 8 | South Park Elementary School | Deerfield | PK–5 | 439 | $10,180 | 82 | 84 |
| 9 | Cherokee Elementary School | Lake Forest | K–4 | 296 | $10,561 | 66 | 75 |
| 10 | Prairie Elementary School | Buffalo Grove | 1–5 | 423 | $8,741 | 75 | 80 |
Top McHenry County High Schools
| Enrollment | Spending per pupil | SAT reading attainment %* | SAT math attainment %* | Graduation rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Lake South High School | Crystal Lake | 1,465 | $9,630 | 56 | 57 | 97 |
| 2 | Crystal Lake Central High School | Crystal Lake | 1,508 | $9,630 | 50 | 49 | 95 |
| 3 | Prairie Ridge High School | Crystal Lake | 1,436 | $9,630 | 54 | 58 | 93 |
| 4 | Cary-Grove High School | Cary | 1,702 | $9,630 | 53 | 51 | 97 |
| 5 | Richmond-Burton Community High School | Richmond | 663 | $8,403 | 60 | 55 | 95 |
Top McHenry County Elementary and Middle Schools
| Grades | Enrollment | Spending per pupil | PARCC reading attainment % | PARCC math attainment % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edgebrook Elementary School | McHenry | PK–5 | 500 | $8,486 | 38 | 41 |
| 2 | Prairie Grove Elementary School | Crystal Lake | PK–5 | 425 | $9,522 | 60 | 49 |
| 3 | West Elementary School | Crystal Lake | K–5 | 527 | $6,767 | 55 | 66 |
| 4 | Nippersink Middle School | Richmond | 6–8 | 433 | $7,902 | 61 | 52 |
| 5 | Woods Creek Elementary School | Crystal Lake | K–5 | 598 | $6,767 | 64 | 60 |
| 6 | Kenneth E. Neubert Elementary School | Algonquin | K–5 | 438 | $6,296 | 43 | 50 |
| 7 | Richmond Grade School | Richmond | K–5 | 418 | $7,902 | 56 | 46 |
| 8 | Prairie Grove Junior High School | Crystal Lake | 6–8 | 258 | $9,522 | 56 | 33 |
| 9 | Johnsburg Junior High School | Johnsburg | 6–8 | 474 | $7,946 | 48 | 35 |
| 10 | Eastview Elementary School | Algonquin | PK–5 | 490 | $6,296 | 64 | 57 |
Top Will County High Schools
| Enrollment | Spending per pupil | SAT reading attainment %* | SAT math attainment %* | Graduation rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neuqua Valley High School | Naperville | 3,662 | $7,843 | 74 | 75 | 98 |
| 2 | Lincoln-Way East High School | Frankfort | 2,889 | $7,194 | 59 | 59 | 97 |
| 3 | Lincoln-Way Central High School | New Lenox | 2,138 | $7,194 | 57 | 60 | 98 |
| 4 | Lincoln-Way West High School | New Lenox | 1,905 | $7,194 | 54 | 60 | 98 |
| 5 | Lockport Township High School | East Lockport | 3,706 | $8,039 | 50 | 45 | 95 |
Top Will County Elementary and Middle Schools
| Grades | Enrollment | Spending per pupil | PARCC reading attainment % | PARCC math attainment % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory Creek Middle School | Frankfort | 6–8 | 873 | $6,071 | 87 | 80 |
| 2 | River Woods Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 501 | $8,898 | 71 | 71 |
| 3 | Jane Addams Middle School | Bolingbrook | 6–8 | 690 | $8,486 | 58 | 49 |
| 4 | Union Elementary School | Joliet | K–8 | 91 | $9,259 | 59 | 41 |
| 5 | Eisenhower Academy | Joliet | 1–5 | 240 | $6,533 | 83 | 84 |
| 6 | Danielle-Joy Peterson Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 737 | $7,843 | 70 | 73 |
| 7 | Frankfort Square Elementary School | Frankfort | 1–4 | 211 | $6,616 | 66 | 64 |
| 8 | Oliver Julian Kendall Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 349 | $7,843 | 77 | 73 |
| 9 | Chelsea Intermediate School | Frankfort | 3–5 | 815 | $6,071 | 68 | 70 |
| 10 | Fry Elementary School | Naperville | K–5 | 560 | $7,843 | 73 | 80 |