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6.1 avg / 10

Best Schools in Chicago, Illinois

850 schools · 618 Elementary · 18 Middle · 183 High · 31 Other

Public: 632
Private: 218
Districts: 10
Avg Rating: 6.1/10
Estimated Scores: 1%
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Chicago?

Use this page to compare every school in Chicago by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the mapHow we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch

9.8/10

Elementary · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Real test data100th percentile Open profile

Decatur Classical Elem School

9.7/10

Elementary · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Real test data100th percentile Open profile

Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr

9.7/10

Elementary · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Real test data100th percentile Open profile

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Chicago for 2026 are Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch (9.8/10), Decatur Classical Elem School (9.7/10), and Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr (9.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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

850

632 public · 218 private

Avg Score

6.1

out of 10

Median Home

$356,912

home value · ACS

Districts

10

serving the city

Best value · beats the odds
Everett Elem School

Rates 9.2/10 despite 84% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.3 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 schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Chicago

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 850). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch 9.8 / 10
2 Decatur Classical Elem School 9.7 / 10
3 Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr 9.7 / 10
4 Northside College Preparatory HS 9.5 / 10
5 Prescott Elem School 9.4 / 10
6 Payton College Preparatory HS 9.4 / 10
7 Latin School of Chicago Upper 9.4 / 10
8 Young Magnet High School 9.3 / 10
9 Mayer Elem School 9.3 / 10
10 Lenart Elem Regional Gifted Ctr 9.3 / 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
6.1/10

29% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$82,484

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$356,912

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
46%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
33 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
48%

Of occupied housing units

How Chicago compares

Illinois rank

#221 of 444

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.1

below Illinois avg (6.2)

Median household income

$82k

101% of Illinois median

Schools in this city

792

Education Snapshot

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's 850 schools serve approximately 367,244 students across 10 school districts. The city's school mix tilts heavily toward elementary education: 618 of those schools are elementary campuses, compared to 183 high schools, 31 other or combined campuses, and just 18 dedicated middle schools. Elementary schools account for over 72% of all campuses — more than three times the count of high schools and 34 times the count of middle schools. The 792 Chicago schools with a MySchoolScout composite score average 6.1/10, placing the city one-tenth of a point below the Illinois state average of 6.2/10. The city's 118 charter schools represent roughly 14% of all schools. Chicago's median household income of $72,980 is 16% below the Illinois state median of $86,588; 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

About Schools in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago runs one of the largest urban public school systems in the country, with 629 ranked public schools spread across the city's 77 neighborhoods. That scale means enormous variety — from selective enrollment programs to neighborhood elementaries — and parents benefit from knowing how performance is distributed before they start comparing options.

The city average sits at 6.4 out of 10, and 204 schools, or 32 percent of the ranked total, score 7 or above. That's a meaningful subset of strong performers, but it also means the majority of schools fall below that threshold. Understanding where a school sits relative to that 6.4 baseline gives parents a clearer read than raw ratings alone. At the top end, Belding Elementary and Orozco Elementary Fine Arts and Sciences both score 9.3, the highest in the city. Bronzeville Classical Elementary and Payton College Preparatory High School each earn a 9.2, with Pritzker Elementary close behind at 9.1. Payton stands out as the top-rated high school in Chicago and draws students citywide through a selective enrollment process.

Chicago's school landscape also reflects the city's geography. High-performing schools are not evenly distributed — they tend to cluster in certain neighborhoods, and many carry selective or magnet designations that require applications, testing, or both. Families zoned to a lower-rated neighborhood school often have access to citywide options if their child qualifies, which makes it worth researching both local and non-neighborhood schools simultaneously. Elementary performance matters here too: strong elementary preparation is often the path to competitive selective high schools like Payton.

For parents actively comparing schools, the 7-plus threshold is a practical starting filter — it identifies roughly one in three Chicago public schools as above-average performers. From there, checking whether a school is neighborhood-assigned or selective, and understanding the application timeline, will shape what's actually within reach. The gap between the city's top scorers and its average is wide, so location alone shouldn't drive the decision. Chicago rewards parents who dig into the data early.

Filter by Level: All Levels (850) Elementary (618) Middle (18) High (183)
Filter by Type: All Types (850) Public (632) Private (218)
Filter by Rating: All Ratings (850) Academics (630) Growth (623) Resources (630)
Filter by ZIP: 60623 (38) 60609 (33) 60608 (32) 60617 (31) 60632 (31) 60620 (28) 60643 (28) 60612 (26) 60618 (26) 60628 (26) 60629 (24) 60619 (23)

Elementary Schools

618 schools
# School Rating
1
Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch
423 students · Kindergarten–7th 		9.8
2
Decatur Classical Elem School
329 students · Kindergarten–8th 		9.7
3
Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr
265 students · Kindergarten–8th 		9.7
4
Prescott Elem School
412 students · Kindergarten–8th 		9.4
5
Mayer Elem School
698 students · Pre-K–8th 		9.3
6
Lenart Elem Regional Gifted Ctr
296 students · Pre-K–8th 		9.3
7
Skinner North Elem Sch
512 students · Kindergarten–8th 		9.3
8
Everett Elem School
98 students · Pre-K–5th 		9.2
9
Hamilton Elem School
485 students · Pre-K–8th 		9.2
10
Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy
616 students · Kindergarten–8th 		9.2
Show all 618 elementary schools in Chicago

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Keller Elem Gifted Magnet School Ravenswood Elem School Stem Magnet Academy Elem Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz Poe Elem Classical School Lincoln Elem School Coonley Elem School Blaine Elem School Haines Elem School Pritzker Elem School Lasalle II Lang Acad Elem Sch Skinner Elem School Burley Elem School Ebinger Elem School Healy Elem School Waters Elem School Beard Elem School Bell Elem School Edgebrook Elem School Mcdade Elem Classical School Acero Chtr - Rufino Tamayo Elem Mitchell Elem School Kinzie Elem School Solomon Elem School Stone Elem Scholastic Academy Beaubien Elem School Wildwood Elem School Pickard Elem School Sauganash Elem School Acero Chtr - Esmera Santiago Cmps Burr Elem School Holden Elem School Pulaski Intl Sch of Chicago Casals Elem School Belding Elem School Christopher House Chrt ES Mount Greenwood Elem School Nettelhorst Elem School Sheridan Elem Math & Science Acad Ward J Elem School Galileo Elem Math & Sci Schol Acd Acero Chtr - Octavio Paz Elem Sch Burroughs Elem School Disney Elem Magnet School Norwood Park Elem School Kipp One Academy Orozco Elem Fine Arts & Sciences Davis M Magnet Elem School West Ridge Elem School Acero Chtr - Officer Marquez Elem Kipp Chicago Chrtrs - Ascend Acad Columbia Explorers Elem Academy Learn Charter Excel Campus Acero Chtr-brighton Park Elem Sch Budlong Elem School Dewey Elem Academy of Fine Arts Harriet Tubman Elem School Greeley Elem School Mcdowell Elem School Jungman Elem School Armour Elem School Armstrong G Elem Intl Studies National Teachers Elem Academy Acero Chtr - Sandra Cisneros Elem Kipp Academy Chicago Campus Farnsworth Elem School Rogers Elem School Zapata Elem Academy Blair Early Childhood Center Acero Chtr - Spc Zizumbo Elem Canty Elem School Chappell Elem School Cardenas Elem School Acero Chtr - Carlos Fuentes Elem Learn Chtr - Hunter Perkins Camp Kipp Chicago Chrtrs Bloom Campus Cooper Elem Dual Language Academy Earhart Elem Opt for Knowl School Jamieson Elem School Garcia Lorca Elem School Acero Chtr Roberto Clemente Elem Robinson Elem School Learn Chtr - South Chicago Campus Cics - West Belden Campus Drummond Elem School Linne Elem School Inter-american Elem Magnet School Dirksen Elem School Foster Park Elem School New Field Elem School Moving Everest Charter School Cics - Bucktown Campus Cics - Irving Park Campus Learn Chtr - 7th Campus Chavez Elem Multicultural Acad Ct Alcott Elem School Lewis Elem School Marquette Elem School Oriole Park Elem School Palmer Elem School Peirce Elem Intl Studies School Scammon Elem School Sullivan Elem School Lee Elem School Learn Chtr-campbell Campus Cics - Washington PK Campus Audubon Elem School Fulton Elem School Haugan Elem School Montessori of Englewood Chtr ES Sadlowski Elementary School Univ of Chicago Chtr-nth Kenwood Barbara a Sizemore Campus Goudy Technology Academy Hearst Elem School Lasalle Elem Language Academy Park Manor Elem School Fairfield Elem Academy Sandoval Elem School Cics - Prairie Campus Greene N Elem School Smith W Elem School Mann Elem School Sherwood Elem School Thorp O a Elem Scholastic Acad South Loop Elem School North River Elem School Learn Chtr - Butler Brennemann Elem School Chalmers Elem Specialty School Hanson Park Elem School Hammond Elem School Kilmer Elem School Monarcas Academy Ortiz De Dominguez Elem School Camras Elem School Acero Chtr - Bartolome De Las Cics - Bond Campus Cics - Basil Campus Cics - Avalon/south Shore Betty Shabazz Internl Charter Sch Bateman Elem School Mosaic School of Fine Arts Fuller Elem School Garvy J Elem School Hendricks Elem Community Academy Minnie Minoso Academy Mccutcheon Elem School Nobel Elem School Ruggles Elem School Stowe Elem School Twain Elem School Azuela Elem School Acero Chtr Network - Jovita Idar Bridge Elem School Carnegie Elem School Earle Elem School Kanoon Elem Magnet School Hedges Elem School Jahn Elem School Libby Elem School Piccolo Elem Specialty School Pasteur Elem School Mireles Elem Academy Mcnair Elem School Edison Park Elem School Cics - Wrightwood Univ of Chicago Chtr-donoghue Dawes Elem School Gresham Elem School Herzl Elem School Hibbard Elem School Mckay Elem School Reavis Elem Math & Sci Spec Schl Chicago Academy Elem School Durkin Park Elem School Acero Chtr Network - Pfc Torress Charles J Sahs Elem School Haley Elem Academy Parkside Elem Community Academy Reinberg Elem School Carson Elem School Jordan Elem Community School Carter Elem School Columbus Elem School Dubois Elem School Dvorak Technology Acad Elem Sch Holmes Elem School Nightingale Elem School Ryder Elem Math & Sci Spec School Lavizzo Elem School Whittier Elem School Lara Elem Academy Talman Elem School Disney II Elem School Bond Elem School Franklin Elem Fine Arts Center Henderson Elem School Henry Elem School Hitch Elem School Plamondon Elem School Portage Park Elem School Taylor Elem School Whitney Elem School Till Elem Math & Science Academy James R Doolittle Academy Perez Elem School Bronzeville Academy Charter Sch Turner-drew Elem Language Academy Cameron Elem School Hayt Elem School Chicago World Language Academy Johnson Elem School Kellogg Elem School Lawndale Elem Community Academy Monroe Elem School Onahan Elem School Parker Elem Community Academy Peck Elem School Penn Elem School Reilly Elem School Wentworth Elem School Langford a Elem School Little Village Elem School Telpochcalli Elem School Ruiz Elem School Hurley Elem School Thorp J N Elem School Wadsworth Elem School Woodson South Elem School Aldridge Elem School Clark G R Elem School Finkl Elem School West Park Elem Academy Brentano Elem Math & Science Acad Brown W Elem School Brownell Elem School Crown Elem Comm Acd Fine Arts Ctr Davis N Elem School Dixon Elem School Ericson Elem Scholastic Academy Mcpherson Elem School Oglesby Elem School Schubert Elem School Smyth J Elem School Volta Elem School Colemon J Elem Academy Brunson Math & Sci Specialty Elem Clinton Elem School Cook Elem School Gunsaulus Elem Scholastic Academy Funston Elem School Grissom Elem School Hughes L Elem School Locke J Elem School Lovett Elem School Lowell Elem School Lyon Elem School Mason Elem School Moos Elem School Jackson M Elem School Ashburn Community Elem School Avalon Park Elem School Bouchet Elem Math & Science Acad Burbank Elem School Carroll Elem School Cleveland Elem School Deneen Elem School Randolph Elem School King Academy of Social Justice Melody Elem School Prussing Elem School Stagg Elem School Swift Elem Specialty School Tilton Elem School Warren Elem School Barton Elem School Black Magnet Elem School Bradwell Comm Arts & Sci Elem Sch Fernwood Elem School Lloyd Elem School Morrill Elem Math & Sci School Newberry Elem Math & Science Acad Otoole Elem School Woodlawn Elem Community School Bass Elem School Dulles Elem School Dever Elem School Esmond Elem School Addams Elem School Nixon Elem School Okeeffe Elem School Sherman Elem School Smyser Elem School Burke Elem School Gale Elem Community Academy Grimes Elem School Kozminski Elem Community Academy Nash Elem School Tanner Elem School Stevenson Elem School Spry Elem Community School Wacker Elem School Whistler Elem School Tarkington Elem School Avondale - Logandale Elem Sch Barnard Elem Comp Math & Sci Ctr Curtis Elem School Gillespie Elem School Hale Elem School Madison Elem School Manierre Elem School Talcott Elem School Mollison Elem School Schmid Elem School Locke a Elem Charter Academy Daley Elem Academy Asian Human Srvcs-passage Chrtr Bright Elem School Burnside Elem Scholastic Academy Corkery Elem School Eberhart Elem School Falconer Elem School Pilsen Elem Community Academy Peterson Elem School Seward Elem Communication Arts Ac Spencer Technology Acad Elem Sch Westcott Elem School Joplin Elem School Hay Elem Community Academy Catalyst Charter-circle Rock ES Prieto Math-science Elem Sch Great Lakes Academy Charter ES Chase Elem School Drake Elem School White Elem Career Academy Gray Elem School Hamline Elem School Marsh Elem School Murphy Elem School Carver Primary School Shoop Math-sci Tech Elem Academy Yates Elem School Depriest Elem School Salazar Elem Bilingual Center Bennett Elem School Byrne Elem School Ellington Elem School Lozano Elem Bilingual & Intl Ctr Mount Vernon Elem School Sumner Elem Math & Sci Comm Acad Ninos Heroes Elem Academic Ctr Dore Elem School Kershaw Elem School Mozart Elem School Revere Elem School Shields Elem School Shoesmith Elem School Belmont-cragin Elem School Mcauliffe Elem School Darwin Elem School Dunne Technology Acad Elem Sch Brown R Elem Community Acad Pirie Elem Fine Arts & Academic C Ray Elem School Ashe Elem School Hampton Elem Fine & Perf Arts Sch South Shore Fine Arts Elem Sch Daisy Bates Acad of Social Justic Cassell Elem School Evers Elem School Kipling Elem School Mccormick Elem School Washington G Elem School Cullen Elem School Wells Preparatory Elem Academy Morton Elem Career Academy Brighton Park Elem School Clissold Elem School Edwards Elem School Gallistel Elem Language Academy Hoyne Elem School Neil Elem School Otis Elem School Pershing Elem Humanities Magnet Sawyer Elem School Sayre Elem Language Academy Young Elem School Saucedo Elem Scholastic Academy De Diego Elem Community Academy Claremont Academy Elem School Barry Elem School Beethoven Elem School Clay Elem School Fiske Elem School Graham a Elem School Harvard Elem School Frazier Perspectives Magnet ES Rowe Elementary Cics - Loomis Primary Campus Coles Elem Language Academy Goethe Elem School Washington H Elem School Sutherland Elem School Metcalfe Elem Community Academy Faraday Elem School Bret Harte Elem School Hughes C Elem School Jensen Elem Scholastic Academy Cuffe Math-sci Tech Elem Academy Green W Elem School Calmeca Acad Elem School Erie Elem Charter School Beasley Elem Magnet Academic Ctr Owens Community Academy ES Courtenay Elem Language Arts Ctr Pullman Elem School Webster Elem School Beidler Elem School Cather Elem School Howe Elem School Academy for Global Citizenship Kellman Corporate Community Elem Fort Dearborn Elem School Gregory Math & Sci Elem Academy Hefferan Elem School Owen Elem Scholastic Academy Nicholson Tech Acad Elem Sch Garvey M Elem School Murray Elem Language Academy Christopher Elem School Polaris Elem Charter Academy Burnham Elem Inclusive Academy Higgins Elem Community Academy Irving Elem School Ogden Elem School Walsh Elem School Ward L Elem School Chopin Elem School Vanderpoel Elem Magnet School Powell Elem Paideia Comm Academy Sabin Elem Magnet School Ariel Elem Community Academy Mays Elem Academy Dett Elem School Suder Montessori Elem Magnet Schl Plato Learning Acad Elem School Legacy Elem Charter School Leland Elem School Providence-englewood Elem Charter Namaste Elem Charter School Rudolph Elem Learning Center Latin School of Chicago Upper Private Ancona School Private British International School of Chicago, Lincoln P Private Latin School of Chicago Lower Private Chicago City Day School Private St John Lutheran School Private Icc Elementary School Private St John Berchmans School Private Urban Prairie Waldorf School Private Urban Prairie Private Akiba-schechter Jewish Day School Private Intercultural Montessori Language School Private St Constance School Private Children of Peace School Private German International School Chicago Private St Jerome School Private St Helen School Private Montessori Academy of Chicago Private Chicago Free School Private Montessori Academy of Chicago Private Rogers Park Montessori School Private St Matthias School Private St Genevieve School Private Near North Montessori Private Old St Marys School Private Visitation Catholic School Private Montessori Foundations of Chgo Private South Loop Montessori School Private Pope Francis Global Academy Private Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School Private Chicago Jewish Day School Private Guidance Educational Academy Private Brickton Montessori School Private St Nicholas Cathedral School Private St Francis Borgia School Private St Philip Lutheran School Private Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy Private Midwestern Christian Academy Private St Josaphat School Private Queen of Angels Elementary School Private North Park Elementary School Private Bethesda International Academy Private St Andrew School Private St Barnabas Elementary School Private Icc Full Time School Private Frances Xavier Warde School Private Cambridge Classical Academy Private St Stanislaus Kostka School Private Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School Private Catherine Cook School Private St Robert Bellarmine School Private St Mary of the Lake School Private Holy Angels Private St Sava Academy Private Frances Xavier Warde School Private St Edward School Private Christ the King Elementary School Private Sacred Heart School-96th Private St Benedict Preparatory School Private Chicago Friends School Private Sacred Heart Schools Private Pui Tak Christian School Private St Clement School Private Our Lady of the Snows School Private St Therese Chinese Catholic School Private St Ferdinand Parish School Private Pope John Paul II Catholic School Private Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy Private Icci Academy Private Pui Tak Christian School Private Queen of the Universe School Private Pilgrim Lutheran School Private St Procopius School Private St Viator Elementary School Private St Walter School Private Annunciata School Private St Bede the Venerable Private St Eugene Elementary School Private Chicago West Side Christian School Private Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi Private St John De La Salle Catholic Academy Private St Elizabeth of the Trinity Private Holy Family School Private Immaculate Conception School - Exchange Private St Pius V School Private Immaculate Conception School Private Maternity Bvm Elementary School Private Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts Private New Life Academy Private Immaculate Conception School Private St Angela School Private St James Lutheran School Private St Paul Lutheran School Private Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov Elementary School Private St Gall Elementary School Private St Mary Star of the Sea School Private St Richard Elementary School Private St Malachy Elementary School Private St Thomas the Apostle Private St Margaret of Scotland School Private St Sabina Academy Private St John Fisher Elementary School Private Academy of St Benedict the African Private St Nicholas Tolentine School Private Grace Lutheran School Private St Ethelreda Elementary School Private St Paul Lutheran School Private St Agnes of Bohemia School Private Oakdale Christian Academy & Child Care Center Private Our Saviour Lutheran School Private Grace Lutheran School Private Christ the King Lutheran School Private Good Shepherd Christian Academy Private St Paul Early Childhood Center Private St Luke Academy Private Misericordia School Private Chance After Chance College Preparatory Private Kids in Harmony Day School Private Los Pequenos Angelitos Private Raekwon's Scholastic Daycare Academy Llc Private Greater Rock Gifted Learning Academy Private Hope Excel Reaching the World Academy Private Childrens Center Outreach Private Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi Private The Family Matters School Private The Nautilus School Private Guidepost Montessori at West Loop Private Lakeview Preschool Academy Private Northshore Academy for Children Private Spark Montessori Private Drexel Church of God Learning Center Private Guidepost at Edgewater Private All Day Montessori Private Chicago Sda Elementary School Private Wee Care Nursery School Private United Educational Cultural Academy Private Abc Academy Private City Garden Waldorf School Private Gold Coast Prep (formerly Chicago Grammar School) Private Lincoln Park Preschool and Kindergarten Private Little Folks Cottage Daycare & Nursery Private Gateway Montessori School Private Kid'z Colony Private All Aboard Learning Express Private Sauganash Montessori School Private Prairie Land Montessori Private Christian S.t.e.m. Scholars Academy Private Kingdom Academy Learning Center Private Church of God of Chicago Private Casa Dei Bambini - Montessori of Mayfair Private Christ Lutheran School Private Salem Christian School Aka New Life Academy Private Beverly Montessori School Private St Jude Educational Institute Private Stair Step Villa Nursery & Kindergarten Private New Life Christian School Private

Middle Schools

18 schools
# School Rating
1
Richardson Middle School
842 students · 5th–8th 		7.5
2
Gary Elem School
718 students · 3rd–8th 		7.0
3
Evergreen Academy Elem School
200 students · 6th–8th 		6.6
4
Shields Middle School
376 students · 5th–8th 		6.5
5
Learn Chtr - Middle School
185 students · 6th–8th 		6.5
6
Field Elem School
156 students · 5th–8th 		5.9
7
Albany Park Multicultural Elem
227 students · 7th–8th 		5.7
8
Aspira Charter - Haugan Campus
82 students · 6th–8th 		5.3
9
Hernandez Middle School
753 students · 6th–8th 		5.1
10
Northwest Middle School
518 students · 6th–8th 		4.7
Show all 18 middle schools in Chicago

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Madero Middle School Chicago Jesuit Academy Private St Therese School West Private Hyde Park Day School Private Northside Catholic Academy Private Altus Academy Private San Miguel School Private South Central School Main Campus Private

High Schools

183 schools
# School Rating
1
Northside College Preparatory HS
1,032 students · 9th–12th 		9.5
2
Payton College Preparatory HS
1,265 students · 9th–12th 		9.4
3
Young Magnet High School
2,221 students · 7th–12th 		9.3
4
Hancock College Preparatory HS
1,032 students · 9th–12th 		9.1
5
Lane Technical High School
4,525 students · 7th–12th 		8.9
6
Jones College Prep High School
1,973 students · 9th–12th 		8.8
7
Bronzeville Scholastic HS
109 students · 9th–12th 		8.6
8
Von Steuben Metro Science HS
1,695 students · 9th–12th 		8.4
9
Chicago Academy High School
563 students · 9th–12th 		8.4
10
Lincoln Park High School
2,125 students · 9th–12th 		8.3
Show all 183 high schools in Chicago

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Brooks College Prep Academy HS Urban Prep Chtr Acad Englewood HS Intrinsic Charter High School Spry Community Links High School Back of the Yards Ib HS Devry Advantage Academy High Schl Yccs-truman Middle College HS Urban Prep Chtr Bronzeville HS Solorio Academy High School Ace Amandla Charter School Senn High School Taft High School Lindblom Math & Science Acad HS Disney II Magnet HS Phoenix Military Academy HS Infinity Math Science & Tech HS Westinghouse High School Kenwood Academy High School Chicago HS for the Arts Acero Chtr Netrk - Major Garcia Amundsen High School Noble St Chtr Rauner College Prep Air Force Acad High School Noble St Chtr-itw Speer Acad Cics - Northtown Campus Dunbar Vocational Career Acad HS Prosser Career Academy HS Thomas Kelly College Preparatory World Language High School Douglass Academy High School Legal Prep Academy Charter HS Harlan Community Academy HS Phillips Academy High School Noble St Chtr-hansberry Prep Slvr Hubbard High School Mather High School Schurz High School Curie Metropolitan High School Clark Acad Prep Magnet High Schl Chicago Math & Sci Elem Charter Ijla Charter High School Noble St Chtr-pritzker Col Prep Kennedy High School Washington G High School Chicago HS for Agricult Sciences South Shore Intl Col Prep HS Noble St Chtr-golder College Prep Noble St Chtr-muchin College Prep Bogan High School Lake View High School Yccs-west Town Academy Alt HS Noble St Chtr-butler - Crimson Yccs-community Youth Dev Inst HS Noble St Chtr-noble Campus Noble St Chtr-chicago Bulls Prep Yccs West Noble St Chtr-baker Campus Farragut Career Academy HS Noble St Chtr-rowe-clark MS Acad Steinmetz College Prep HS Uplift Community High School Yccs-latino Youth Alternative HS Yccs-mckinley-lakeside Leadership Yccs-scholastic Achievement HS Juarez Community Academy HS Hyde Park Academy High School Clemente Community Academy HS Chicago Military Academy HS North-grand High School Aspira Charter - Early College Pr Yccs-olive Harvey Mid College HS Noble St Chtr-johnson Colg Prep Austin College and Career Acad HS Yccs-innovations of Arts Integr Bowen High School Rickover Naval Academy High Schl Yccs-association House Wells Community Academy HS Marine Leadership Academy - Ames Collins Academy High School Alcott College Prep Crane Medical Prep HS Aspira Charter - Bus and Fin Yccs-cca Academy HS Noble St Chtr-the Noble Academy Raby High School Acero Chtr Sch Netwrk- Victoria Art in Motion Charter School Richards Career Academy HS Marshall Metropolitan High School Manley Career Academy High School Tilden Career Communty Academy HS Yccs-albizu Campos Puerto Rican King College Prep High School Yccs-progressive Leadership Acad Yccs-aspira Pantoja Alt HS Englewood Stem High School Orr Academy High School North Lawndale Prep Chtr - Christ Fenger Academy High School Morgan Park High School Ogden Int High School Chicago Excel Academy HS Cics - Ralph Ellison Campus Univ of Chicago Chtr-woodlawn Noble St Chtr - Mansueto Carver Military Academy HS Perspectives Chtr - Joslin Campus Chicago Technology Academy HS Multicultural Arts High School Yccs-sullivan House Alt HS Simeon Career Academy High School Corliss High School Noble St Chtr-uic College Prep School of Social Justice HS Walter Henri Dyett HS for Arts Noble St Chtr-comer College Prep Intrinsic 2 Charter High School Gage Park High School Julian High School Perspectives Chtr - Leadership Ac Yccs Chtr - Chatham North Lawndale Prep Chtr-collins Yccs-youth Connection Leadership Kelvyn Park High School Roosevelt High School Chicago Collegiate Charter School Perspectives Chtr - HS of Tech Noble St Chtr-drw Trading Col Perspectives Chtr - Iit Campus Hirsch Metropolitan High School Williams Medical Prep High Sch Goode Stem Academy HS Acceleration Academies Llc Homestead Chicago Vocational Career Acad HS Foreman High School Epic Academy High School Ihsca Charter High School Sullivan High School Iyc Chicago Wolcott School Private Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart Private Fusion Academy Lp: Chicago- Lincoln Park Private Mount Carmel High School Private Trinity High School Private Ida Crown Jewish Academy Private Our Lady of Tepeyac High School Private Lubavitch Girls High School Private Gce Lab School Private Chicago Hope Academy Private Holy Trinity High School Private Telshe High School Private Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School Private St Francis De Sales High School Private St Ignatius College Prep Private Depaul College Prep Private De La Salle Institute - Institute Campus Private Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School Private Resurrection College Prep High School Private Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School Private Yeshiva Gedola of the Midwest/yeshiva Eitz Chaim Private Yeshivas Meor Hatorah of Chicago Private Leo Catholic High School Private Austin Career Education Center Private Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago Private Mckinley Lakeside Leadership Academy Private Marist High School Private Br Rice High School Private Changing Oasis, Inc Private Ryan Banks Academy Private Thresholds Private Ryan Banks Academy Private South Central Community Services - South Shore Private

Other Schools

31 schools
# School Rating
1
Horizon Science Acad-belmont
672 students · Kindergarten–9th 		8.1
2
Horizon Science Acad-mckinley PK
853 students · Kindergarten–12th 		7.5
3
Vick Early Childhood & Family Ctr
408 students · Pre-K–Pre-K 		7.2
4
Stock Early Childhood Center
212 students · Pre-K–Pre-K 		7.2
5
Thomas Early Childhood Center
124 students · Pre-K–Pre-K 		7.2
6
Horizon Sci Acad - Southwest Chtr
746 students · Kindergarten–12th 		6.2
7
Catalyst Charter - Maria ES
1,102 students · Kindergarten–12th 		5.9
8
Acero Chtr Sor Juana Ines De La
501 students · Kindergarten–12th 		5.7
9
Cics - Longwood Campus
1,200 students · 3rd–12th 		5.6
Private Schools 22 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1
Gems World Academy Chicago Private
327 students · Pre-K–12th 		9.1
Show all 31 other schools in Chicago

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Bennett Day School Private Chicago Waldorf School Private Ravenswood Christian School Private The Latin School of Chicago Private Bennett Day School Private Daystar Academy Private Lycee Francais De Chicago Private Knapp School and Yeshiva Private Northshore Adventist Academy Private Greenfields Academy Private Esperanza Therapeutic School Private Ucan Academy Private Lawrence Hall School Private Cs Academy Private Univ of Chicago Lab School Private Providence St. Mel School Private Cs Academy College Prep Private Chicago Lighthouse Private Metropolitan Schoolhouse Private Guidepost Montessori at Magnificent Mile Private Pactt Learning Center Private

Schools in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois · 850 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 57 ZIP codes

Median Income

$82,484

Median Home Value

$356,912

Median Rent

$1,487/mo

Population

2,764,319

College Educated

46%

Homeownership

48%

Avg Commute

33 min

Poverty Rate

16.0%

Community Profile

Chicago has a median household income of $82,484. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $356,912, with a median rent of $1,487/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.0%. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State
Illinois
Elementary
618
Middle
18
High
183
Other
31

Resources

🔍 Google "Chicago schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Chicago 📊 Niche Chicago Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools
School Districts (10)

MIAMI-DADE

536 schools · 335,500 students

IDJJ Sch Dist 428

5 schools · 127 students

Horizon Science Acad-McKinley Pk

1 school · 853 students

Horizon Science Acad-Belmont

1 school · 672 students

Betty Shabazz Internl Chrtr Sch

2 schools · 575 students

ACE Amandla Charter School

1 school · 137 students

Bronzeville Academy Chtr School

1 school · 332 students

Intrinsic 2 Charter High School

1 school · 699 students

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

643 schools · 322,809 students

Central Stickney SD 110

1 school · 304 students

Nearby Cities

Cicero (19 schools)
5 mi
Hometown (1 school)
8 mi
Evergreen Park (8 schools)
8 mi
Berwyn (17 schools)
6 mi
Stickney (2 schools)
6 mi
Oak Park (20 schools)
7 mi
Burbank (11 schools)
8 mi
Summit (6 schools)
8 mi
Oak Lawn (18 schools)
9 mi
Forest Park (6 schools)
8 mi
Riverside (8 schools)
8 mi
Lyons (3 schools)
8 mi
Merrionette Park (1 school)
11 mi
Bedford Park (1 school)
9 mi
River Forest (8 schools)
9 mi

Other Major Cities in Illinois

Top metros statewide by school count.

Aurora 62 schools Rockford 61 schools Naperville 58 schools Peoria 53 schools Springfield 45 schools

Featured Rankings

See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.

Best Elementary Schools in Chicago Best Middle Schools in Chicago Best High Schools in Chicago

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Chicago, Illinois

How many schools are in Chicago, Illinois?

Chicago has 850 schools, including 632 public and 218 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Chicago, Illinois?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Chicago is 6.1 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, Illinois?

The top-ranked school in Chicago on MySchoolScout is Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch with a composite score of 9.8/10.

What is the best elementary school in Chicago, Illinois?

The top-ranked elementary school in Chicago on MySchoolScout is Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch with a composite score of 9.8/10.

What is the best middle school in Chicago, Illinois?

The top-ranked middle school in Chicago on MySchoolScout is Chicago Jesuit Academy with a composite score of 8.1/10.

What is the best high school in Chicago, Illinois?

The top-ranked high school in Chicago on MySchoolScout is Northside College Preparatory HS with a composite score of 9.5/10.

How many school districts serve Chicago, Illinois?

Chicago is served by 10 school districts: Miami-dade, Idjj Sch Dist 428, Horizon Science Acad-mckinley PK, Horizon Science Acad-belmont, Betty Shabazz Internl Chrtr Sch, Ace Amandla Charter School, Bronzeville Academy Chtr School, Intrinsic 2 Charter High School, Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, Central Stickney Sd 110.

What is the education level in Chicago, Illinois?

According to Census data, 46% of adults in Chicago have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Chicago, Illinois?

The median household income in Chicago is approximately $82,484 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Chicago, Illinois?

Yes, Chicago has 218 private schools alongside 632 public schools. The top-rated private school is Latin School of Chicago Upper with a score of 9.4/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Chicago, Illinois?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Chicago is 14.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Chicago, 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.