Best Schools in Arlington Heights, Illinois
25 schools · 16 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Arlington Heights?
Use this page to compare every school in Arlington Heights by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Patton Elem School
Elementary · Arlington Heights Sd 25. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Westgate Elem School
Elementary · Arlington Heights Sd 25. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Thomas Middle School
Middle · Arlington Heights Sd 25. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Arlington Heights for 2026 are Patton Elem School (9.2/10), Westgate Elem School (8.8/10), and Thomas Middle School (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
25
13 public · 12 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$395,650
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
25
13 public · 12 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$395,650
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 63% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Arlington Heights schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +25.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Arlington Heights schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Arlington Heights
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 13 rated schools; 25 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patton Elem School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Westgate Elem School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Thomas Middle School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | South Middle School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Juliette Low Elem School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Dryden Elem School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Windsor Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Ivy Hill Elem School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 9 | John Hersey High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Greenbrier Elem School | 7.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $112,633
- Median home value
- $395,650
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 58%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
64% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Arlington Heights compares
Illinois rank
#76 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.9
above Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$113k
137% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
22
Arlington Heights SD 25 runs 69% of Arlington Heights's public schools
Arlington Heights touches 4 districts, but Arlington Heights SD 25 is the one most addresses actually attend.
Arlington Heights SD 25 accounts for 9 of 13 public schools (69%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 4.
Among 13 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.4 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Arlington Heights, not a citywide average.
- Arlington Heights SD 259 public · 69%
- Wheeling Ccsd 212 public · 15%
- Comm Cons SD 591 public · 8%
- Township Hsd 2141 public · 8%
About Schools in Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights has 13 ranked public schools averaging 7.3 out of 10. That number carries weight: 54% of those schools — 7 out of 13 — score 7 or higher, meaning the city's above-average performance isn't driven by a few outliers pulling up a weak field. Strong schools here are the norm, not the exception.
The elementary tier drives that strength. Greenbrier Elementary sits at 9.5 out of 10, the highest score among all 13 schools — a standout result that anchors the city's reputation for quality public education at the K–5 level. Windsor Elementary (8.3) and Dryden Elementary (8.1) aren't far behind, and J.W. Riley Elementary rounds out the upper tier at 7.9. Parents with children in elementary years have real options here — multiple high-scoring schools across different attendance zones, not a single destination to chase.
At the secondary level, John Hersey High School posts an 8.7, the second-highest score in the city. That score puts it among the stronger high school options in the northwest suburbs. For families making location decisions with an eye on secondary outcomes — test performance, college preparation, graduation rates — Hersey is a meaningful draw and worth weighting heavily in the comparison.
The practical takeaway: Arlington Heights offers an above-average floor and an exceptional ceiling. The spread across 13 schools still matters — not every address feeds into a 7-plus-rated school — so confirm attendance zone boundaries before committing to a neighborhood. Street-level zone lines here don't always follow the shapes parents expect. If elementary placement is the priority, concentrate your search on Greenbrier, Windsor, and Dryden attendance areas. If high school is the deciding factor, Hersey's 8.7 makes the case on its own. Either way, this is a city where digging into individual school data pays off faster than most.
Elementary Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 415 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 618 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 275 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 4 | 505 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 5 | 471 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 6 | 565 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 7 | 289 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 8 | 635 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 9 | 323 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.7 |
| 10 | 315 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 |
Show all 16 elementary schools in Arlington Heights
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 992 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 813 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,035 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Newhope Academy LtdPrivate 120 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Newhope AcademyPrivate 100 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | St Viator High SchoolPrivate 808 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | 111 students · Pre-K–9th | Not Rated |
| 3 | Christian Liberty AcademyPrivate 561 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights, Illinois · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$112,633
Median Home Value
$395,650
Median Rent
$1,662/mo
Population
80,906
College Educated
58%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Community Profile
Arlington Heights has a median household income of $112,633. It is a well-educated community where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $395,650, with a median rent of $1,662/month. The local poverty rate of 7.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 16
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- Other
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in Illinois
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Arlington Heights, Illinois
How many schools are in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
Arlington Heights has 25 schools, including 13 public and 12 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Arlington Heights is 7.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Arlington Heights on MySchoolScout is Patton Elem School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Arlington Heights on MySchoolScout is Patton Elem School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Arlington Heights on MySchoolScout is Thomas Middle School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best high school in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Arlington Heights on MySchoolScout is John Hersey High School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
How many school districts serve Arlington Heights, Illinois?
Arlington Heights is served by 4 school districts: Arlington Heights Sd 25, Township Hsd 214, Comm Cons Sd 59, Wheeling Ccsd 21.
What is the education level in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
According to Census data, 58% of adults in Arlington Heights have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The median household income in Arlington Heights is approximately $112,633 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
Yes, Arlington Heights has 12 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Newhope Academy Ltd with a score of 8.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Arlington Heights is 11.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Arlington Heights, Illinois?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Illinois Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.