The brief
The top-rated high schools in Chicago for 2026 are Hancock College Preparatory HS (9.0/10), Northside College Preparatory HS (7.9/10), and Young Magnet High School (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 149 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Chicago's high school landscape spans 149 ranked schools, giving families a wide field to navigate. Payton College Preparatory leads the pack with a 9.2/10 composite score, followed closely by Northside College Preparatory and Bronzeville Scholastic, both at 9.1/10. The citywide average sits at 6.6/10, but 61 schools — 41% of the total — clear the 7/10 threshold, meaning strong options are distributed across the metro rather than concentrated at the very top. Chicago's high school mix includes selective enrollment schools, neighborhood schools, and charter options, so the right fit depends heavily on your priorities. Use the table below to sort by composite score, test performance, or other metrics to narrow the list. Filtering by neighborhood or school type can help surface options that match both your academic benchmarks and your family's practical needs.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.0
- 27.9
- 37.8
- 47.7
- 57.7
- 67.6
- 77.6
- 87.3
- 97.2
- 107.2
All 149 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 149
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Hancock College Preparatory HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,032student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Northside College Preparatory HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,032student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 3Young Magnet High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 2,221student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 7th–12th
- 4Lane Technical High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 4,525student-teacher ratio 16.8:1grades 7th–12th
- 5Noble St Chtr-Noble CampuscharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 679student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Brooks College Prep Academy HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 982student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 7th–12th
- 7Noble St Chtr-Pritzker Col PrepcharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 991student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 8Disney II Magnet HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 755student-teacher ratio 9.4:1grades 7th–12th
- 9Payton College Preparatory HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,265student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 10Intrinsic Charter High SchoolcharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 947student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades 7th–12th
- 11Lindblom Math & Science Acad HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,360student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 7th–12th
- 12Kenwood Academy High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 2,337student-teacher ratio 18.3:1grades 7th–12th
- 13Chicago Academy High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 563student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 14Chicago Math & Sci Elem ChartercharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 620student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 6th–12th
- 15Noble St Chtr-Itw Speer AcadcharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,109student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 16Amundsen High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,585student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Morgan Park High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,245student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades 7th–12th
- 18Taft High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 4,416student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades 7th–12th
- 19Von Steuben Metro Science HSChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,695student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Noble St Chtr - MansuetocharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,071student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Jones College Prep High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,973student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Noble St Chtr-Comer College PrepcharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,024student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades 6th–12th
- 23Urban Prep Chtr Bronzeville HScharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 167student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 24Solorio Academy High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 1,264student-teacher ratio 15.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 25Lincoln Park High SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 2,125student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades 9th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Illinois education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Illinois. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Hancock College Preparatory HS
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
1,032 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 4% in Illinois
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 7.0
- 2
Northside College Preparatory HS
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
1,032 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 18% in Illinois
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 4.4
- Environment
- 7.8
- 3
Young Magnet High School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
2,221 students · 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–12th
Top 19% in Illinois
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 4.9
- Environment
- 7.2
- 4
Lane Technical High School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
4,525 students · 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–12th
Top 21% in Illinois
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 5.7
- Environment
- 4.9
- 5
Noble St Chtr-Noble Campus
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
679 students · 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 22% in Illinois · charter
- Academics
- 7.6
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 5.8
- 6
Brooks College Prep Academy HS
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
982 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–12th
Top 23% in Illinois
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 7.6
- Environment
- 3.3
- 7
Noble St Chtr-Pritzker Col Prep
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
991 students · 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 23% in Illinois · charter
- Academics
- 6.5
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 4.6
- 8
Disney II Magnet HS
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
755 students · 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–12th
Top 30% in Illinois
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 7.6
- Environment
- 5.2
- 9
Payton College Preparatory HS
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
1,265 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 32% in Illinois
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 1.9
- Environment
- 7.5
- 10
Intrinsic Charter High School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
947 students · 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–12th
Top 32% in Illinois · charter
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 7.6
Questions
What is the best high school in Chicago, Illinois?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Hancock College Preparatory HS is the top-rated high school in Chicago with a composite score of 9.0/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many high schools are in Chicago, Illinois?
Chicago has 188 high schools, including 59 charter schools. Of these, 180 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Chicago?
Among 180 Chicago high schools with a composite score, the average is 5.1/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Illinois).
How does MySchoolScout rate high schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Illinois, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Illinois, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Chicago high school rankings?
Chicago has 59 charter high schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best elementary schools in Chicago2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in Chicago2026 rankings and ratings
- All 868 schools in ChicagoElementary, middle and high
- Illinois schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings