The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Chicago for 2026 are Evergreen Academy Elem School (7.6/10), Albany Park Multicultural Elem (7.1/10), and Madero Middle School (7.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 11 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Chicago's middle school landscape spans 11 ranked schools, with scores ranging from the mid-6s up to Evergreen Academy Elementary School's leading 8.0 out of 10. That top mark stands notably above the field — the average composite score across all ranked schools sits at 6.9, meaning Evergreen outpaces the norm by more than a full point. The encouraging news for families: more than half of the ranked schools clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold, with 6 of 11 hitting that mark. Hernandez Middle School and Field Elementary School follow close behind the top performer at 7.5 and 7.4 respectively, giving families several strong options to consider. Use the table below to sort by score, school type, or other factors that matter most to your family. Each column is clickable, so you can quickly cut through the full list and zero in on the schools that fit.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 17.6
- 27.1
- 37.0
- 47.0
- 56.7
- 66.4
- 76.4
- 86.3
- 96.0
- 105.4
All 11 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 11
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Evergreen Academy Elem SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 200student-teacher ratio 11.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Albany Park Multicultural ElemChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 227student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades 7th–8th
- 3Madero Middle SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 250student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Richardson Middle SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 842student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 5th–8th
- 5Shields Middle SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 376student-teacher ratio 11.4:1grades 5th–8th
- 6Gary Elem SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 718student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades 3rd–8th
- 7Learn Chtr - Middle SchoolcharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 185student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Hernandez Middle SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 753student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Aspira Charter - Haugan CampuscharterChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 82student-teacher ratio 82.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Field Elem SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 156student-teacher ratio 10.4:1grades 5th–8th
- 11Northwest Middle SchoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299students 518student-teacher ratio 12.9:1grades 6th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Illinois education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in Illinois. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 11 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Evergreen Academy Elem School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
200 students · 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 23% in Illinois
- Academics
- 7.4
- Growth
- 6.9
- Environment
- 9.0
- 2
Albany Park Multicultural Elem
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
227 students · 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–8th
Top 34% in Illinois
- Academics
- 6.5
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 7.5
- 3
Madero Middle School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
250 students · 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 37% in Illinois
- Academics
- 5.3
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 8.2
- 4
Richardson Middle School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
842 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 37% in Illinois
- Academics
- 6.2
- Growth
- 8.3
- Environment
- 6.0
- 5
Shields Middle School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
376 students · 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 44% in Illinois
- Academics
- 6.0
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 6.7
- 6
Gary Elem School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
718 students · 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 3rd–8th
Top 50% in Illinois
- Academics
- 5.8
- Growth
- 6.5
- Environment
- 7.2
- 7
Learn Chtr - Middle School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
185 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 50% in Illinois · charter
- Academics
- 7.0
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 1.7
- 8
Hernandez Middle School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
753 students · 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 52% in Illinois
- Academics
- 5.8
- Growth
- 6.1
- Environment
- 7.3
- 9
Aspira Charter - Haugan Campus
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
82 students · 82.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 59% in Illinois · charter
- Academics
- 6.7
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 1.2
- 10
Field Elem School
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
156 students · 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 71% in Illinois
- Academics
- 6.0
- Growth
- 3.0
- Environment
- 8.3
Questions
What is the best middle school in Chicago, Illinois?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Evergreen Academy Elem School is the top-rated middle school in Chicago with a composite score of 7.6/10. 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 middle schools are in Chicago, Illinois?
Chicago has 21 middle schools, including 2 charter schools. Of these, 19 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Chicago?
Among 19 Chicago middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.7/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Illinois).
How does MySchoolScout rate middle 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 middle school rankings?
Chicago has 2 charter middle 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 high 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