Best Schools in Chicago Heights, Illinois
16 schools · 13 Elementary · 3 High
Choosing a school in Chicago Heights?
Use this page to compare every school in Chicago 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.
Barack Obama Sch of Ldership
Elementary · Park Forest Sd 163. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Serena Hills Elem School
Elementary · Flossmoor Sd 161. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Kennedy Elem School
Elementary · Chicago Heights Sd 170. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Chicago Heights for 2026 are Barack Obama Sch of Ldership (7.8/10), Serena Hills Elem School (7.2/10), and Kennedy Elem School (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
16
12 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$148,200
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
16
12 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$148,200
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 82% 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 Chicago Heights schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Chicago Heights schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Chicago Heights
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 16 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barack Obama Sch of Ldership | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Serena Hills Elem School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Kennedy Elem School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Lincoln Elem School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Roosevelt Elem School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Wilson Elem School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Greenbriar Elem School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Washington-Mckinley Elem Sch | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Jefferson Elem School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Bloom High School | 4.6 / 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
- $56,627
- Median home value
- $148,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 36 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 65%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Chicago Heights compares
Illinois rank
#294 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$57k
69% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
15
Chicago Heights SD 170 runs 67% of Chicago Heights's public schools
Chicago Heights touches 4 districts, but Chicago Heights SD 170 is the one most addresses actually attend.
Chicago Heights SD 170 accounts for 8 of 12 public schools (67%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 4.
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.1 to 7.8 — the spread is inside Chicago Heights, not a citywide average.
- Chicago Heights SD 1708 public · 67%
- Bloom Twp Hsd 2062 public · 17%
- Flossmoor SD 1611 public · 8%
- Park Forest SD 1631 public · 8%
About Schools in Chicago Heights, Illinois
Chicago Heights, Illinois is home to 16 schools, including 12 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 13 elementary schools, , and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Chicago Heights show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Chicago Heights is Barack Obama Sch of Ldership with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Chicago Heights is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 9,596 students.
Chicago Heights's community shows 22% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $56,627. The poverty rate in the area is 22.3%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 315 students · 4th–5th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 319 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 199 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 86 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 5 | 348 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 161 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 183 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 279 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 155 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.7 |
| 10 | 219 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 |
Show all 13 elementary schools in Chicago Heights
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,832 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 2 | 1,272 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Marian Catholic High SchoolPrivate 797 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Chicago Heights
Chicago Heights, Illinois · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$56,627
Median Home Value
$148,200
Median Rent
$1,156/mo
Population
52,395
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
65%
Avg Commute
36 min
Poverty Rate
22.3%
Community Profile
Chicago Heights has a median household income of $56,627. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $148,200, with a median rent of $1,156/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute in the area is 36 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 13
- High
- 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 Chicago Heights, Illinois
How many schools are in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Chicago Heights has 16 schools, including 12 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Chicago Heights 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 Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Chicago Heights on MySchoolScout is Barack Obama Sch of Ldership with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Chicago Heights on MySchoolScout is Barack Obama Sch of Ldership with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best high school in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The top-ranked high school in Chicago Heights on MySchoolScout is Bloom High School with a composite score of 4.6/10.
How many school districts serve Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Chicago Heights is served by 4 school districts: Bloom Twp Hsd 206, Chicago Heights Sd 170, Flossmoor Sd 161, Park Forest Sd 163.
What is the education level in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Chicago Heights have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The median household income in Chicago Heights is approximately $56,627 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Yes, Chicago Heights has 4 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Cornerstone Christian School with a score of 6.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Chicago Heights is 14.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Chicago 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.