Best Schools in Aurora, Illinois
63 schools · 39 Elementary · 11 Middle · 8 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Aurora?
Use this page to compare every school in Aurora 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.
C I Johnson Elem School
Elementary · Aurora East USD 131. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Fred Rodgers Magnet Acad
Middle · Aurora East USD 131. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Still Middle School
Middle · Indian Prairie Cusd 204. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Aurora for 2026 are C I Johnson Elem School (9.4/10), Fred Rodgers Magnet Acad (9.2/10), and Still Middle School (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 43 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
63
47 public · 16 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$282,480
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
63
47 public · 16 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$282,480
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 57% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.8 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 Aurora schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +20.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Aurora schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Aurora
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 43 rated schools; 63 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C I Johnson Elem School | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Fred Rodgers Magnet Acad | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Still Middle School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Illinois Mathematics and Science | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Francis Granger Middle School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Bednarcik Junior High School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Fischer Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Jefferson Middle School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Herget Middle School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Peter M Gombert Elementary Sch | 7.2 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $107,571
- Median home value
- $282,480
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 42%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
33% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Aurora compares
Illinois rank
#298 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$108k
131% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
57
Education Snapshot
Aurora, IllinoisAurora runs 62 schools across 5 districts, enrolling roughly 38,091 students — the largest share at the elementary level, where 40 of the 62 schools operate. The city's composite MySchoolScout rating averages 6.1/10 across 57 scored schools, edging just below the Illinois state average of 6.2/10. That gap is notable given Aurora's economic profile: median household income of $92,366 runs 7% above the Illinois state median of $86,588, yet the stronger income base has not translated into above-state-average school performance. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher reach 34%. With 5 separate districts dividing this enrollment base, families navigate administrative boundaries to compare options, making individual school ratings more actionable than district or city averages. The secondary tier includes 11 middle schools and 7 high schools, rounding out a full K-12 range across the city.
Aurora's public schools split across 5 districts
No single ISD owns Aurora. The public campuses divide among 5 districts.
The largest shares: Aurora East USD 131 (18), Aurora West USD 129 (12), Indian Prairie CUSD 204 (12).
Among 43 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.2 to 9.4 — the spread is inside Aurora, not a citywide average.
- Aurora East USD 13118 public · 38%
- Aurora West USD 12912 public · 26%
- Indian Prairie CUSD 20412 public · 26%
- CUSD 3084 public · 9%
- Il Mathematics & Science Academy1 public · 2%
About Schools in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois has 45 ranked public schools, giving families a wide field to evaluate. The city's average school score is 5.8 out of 10, which reflects a broad performance spread — from high-achieving campuses to schools that trail state benchmarks. Only 7 schools, or 16% of the total, score 7 or above, so standout options are available but not the norm across the district.
At the top of the rankings, Peter M Gombert Elementary School leads the city with a score of 8.2 out of 10, the highest in Aurora. Metea Valley High School follows at 8.1, and Waubonsie Valley High School scores 7.9 — both sit among the stronger high school options in the western suburbs. Francis Granger Middle School rounds out the upper tier at 7.7, while C I Johnson Elementary School holds a 7.3. These five schools form a reliable cluster of high performers, but they represent a small fraction of the 45 ranked schools citywide.
Aurora spans multiple school districts, and boundaries matter significantly here. Families near Naperville Unit School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204 — which serve parts of Aurora — tend to have access to the higher-scoring campuses. Gombert Elementary and Metea Valley both fall within District 204. Parents should confirm their specific attendance zone early, since an address close to a top-rated school does not guarantee enrollment there.
The practical takeaway: Aurora offers real choices for parents willing to research boundaries and consider options like open enrollment or magnet programs where available. With 84% of schools scoring below 7 out of 10, the city average alone is not a reliable guide. Focus on individual school scores, check which district serves your address, and compare grade-level options across elementary, middle, and high school separately — performance levels shift at each stage. The gap between Aurora's best and most average schools is meaningful, and the data rewards parents who look closely rather than rely on neighborhood reputation alone.
Elementary Schools
39 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 271 students · 3rd–5th | 9.4 |
| 2 | 415 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 670 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 316 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 7.0 |
| 5 | 487 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 707 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 458 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 596 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 432 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 10 | 527 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
Show all 39 elementary schools in Aurora
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 281 students · 6th–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 678 students · 6th–8th | 9.1 |
| 3 | 1,013 students · 6th–8th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 560 students · 6th–8th | 8.1 |
| 5 | 904 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 6 | 575 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 7 | 576 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
| 8 | 737 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 689 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 10 | 850 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
Show all 11 middle schools in Aurora
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 630 students · 10th–12th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 2,807 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | 2,781 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 3,655 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 5 | 4,019 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rosary High SchoolPrivate 220 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 452 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Marmion AcademyPrivate 423 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 582 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.6 | ||
| 2 | 563 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.8 | ||
| 3 | 2 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Covenant Christian SchoolPrivate 67 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Covenant Christian SchoolPrivate 66 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Aurora
Aurora, Illinois · 63 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$107,571
Median Home Value
$282,480
Median Rent
$1,714/mo
Population
187,044
College Educated
42%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Community Profile
Aurora has a median household income of $107,571. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $282,480, with a median rent of $1,714/month. The local poverty rate of 8.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 39
- Middle
- 11
- High
- 8
- Other
- 5
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 Aurora, Illinois
How many schools are in Aurora, Illinois?
Aurora has 63 schools, including 47 public and 16 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Aurora, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Aurora is 6.0 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 Aurora, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Aurora on MySchoolScout is C I Johnson Elem School with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Aurora, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Aurora on MySchoolScout is C I Johnson Elem School with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Aurora, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Aurora on MySchoolScout is Fred Rodgers Magnet Acad with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best high school in Aurora, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Aurora on MySchoolScout is Illinois Mathematics and Science with a composite score of 8.6/10.
How many school districts serve Aurora, Illinois?
Aurora is served by 5 school districts: Il Mathematics & Science Academy, Aurora East USD 131, Aurora West USD 129, Cusd 308, Indian Prairie Cusd 204.
What is the education level in Aurora, Illinois?
According to Census data, 42% of adults in Aurora have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Aurora, Illinois?
The median household income in Aurora is approximately $107,571 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Aurora, Illinois?
Yes, Aurora has 16 private schools alongside 47 public schools. The top-rated private school is Rosary High School with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Aurora, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Aurora is 13.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Aurora, 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.