Best Schools in Wilmette, Illinois
13 schools · 8 Elementary · 3 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Wilmette?
Use this page to compare every school in Wilmette 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.
Wilmette Junior High School
Middle · Wilmette Sd 39. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Highcrest Middle School
Middle · Wilmette Sd 39. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Marie Murphy School
Middle · Avoca Sd 37. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Wilmette for 2026 are Wilmette Junior High School (9.3/10), Highcrest Middle School (8.9/10), and Marie Murphy School (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 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
13
7 public · 6 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$800,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
13
7 public · 6 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$800,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +8.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Wilmette schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Wilmette
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmette Junior High School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Highcrest Middle School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Marie Murphy School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Mckenzie Elem School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Harper Elem School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Romona Elem School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Central Elem School | 6.3 / 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
- 7.7/10
- Median household income
- $190,250
- Median home value
- $800,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 85%
- Avg commute
- 35 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 88%
73% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Wilmette compares
Illinois rank
#28 of 450
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.3
above Illinois avg (6.4)
Median household income
$190k
232% of Illinois median
Schools in this city
11
Wilmette SD 39 runs 86% of Wilmette's public schools
Wilmette touches 2 districts, but Wilmette SD 39 is the one most addresses actually attend.
Wilmette SD 39 accounts for 6 of 7 public schools (86%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 7 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 6.3 to 9.3 — the spread is inside Wilmette, not a citywide average.
- Wilmette SD 396 public · 86%
- Avoca SD 371 public · 14%
About Schools in Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette's public school system is compact and consistently strong. Seven ranked public schools serve the city across elementary and middle grade levels, and every one scores 7 or higher out of 10 — a 100% pass rate at that threshold. The citywide average lands at 8.8 out of 10, reflecting sustained academic performance across grade levels rather than a single outlier pulling up a weaker field.
At the top of the rankings, Harper Elem School earns a 9.8 out of 10, the highest score in the city. Highcrest Middle School follows at 9.6, showing that the strong academic environment built at the elementary level carries forward through middle school. Central Elem and Wilmette Junior High School both score 9.0, while Romona Elem comes in at 8.4. The spread from the top school to the fifth-ranked school is just 1.4 points — performance here does not drop sharply once you move away from the highest names.
That consistency is one of the clearest signals in the data. Parents choosing between an elementary school on one side of the city versus another are not navigating a wide quality gap. All seven ranked schools clear the 7.0 threshold, and most cluster in the high 8s and 9s. That floor matters for families who prioritize continuity as students advance through grade levels.
For parents doing early research, the practical picture is straightforward. Wilmette's 7 ranked schools average 8.8 out of 10 with no school falling below the 7.0 mark. The elementary-to-middle pipeline holds at the top of the scale — Highcrest Middle and Wilmette Junior High both score 9.0 or above. Families moving to Wilmette can expect strong academic environments regardless of which attendance zone they land in. The data reflects a system where high performance is the norm, not the exception.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 463 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 370 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | 479 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.4 | ||
| 4 | 456 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.3 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Baker Demonstration SchoolPrivate 148 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Francis Xavier SchoolPrivate 520 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Gan MontessoriPrivate 2 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 15 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 770 students · 7th–8th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 747 students · 5th–6th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 267 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regina Dominican HSPrivate 200 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Loyola AcademyPrivate 1,947 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Wilmette
Wilmette, Illinois · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$190,250
Median Home Value
$800,100
Median Rent
$1,968/mo
Population
27,369
College Educated
85%
Homeownership
88%
Avg Commute
35 min
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Community Profile
Wilmette has a median household income of $190,250. It is a well-educated community where 85% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $800,100, with a median rent of $1,968/month. The local poverty rate of 3.4% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Illinois
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 2
Resources
School Districts (2)
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 Wilmette, Illinois
How many schools are in Wilmette, Illinois?
Wilmette has 13 schools, including 7 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Wilmette, Illinois?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Wilmette is 7.7 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 Wilmette, Illinois?
The top-ranked school in Wilmette on MySchoolScout is Wilmette Junior High School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Wilmette, Illinois?
The top-ranked elementary school in Wilmette on MySchoolScout is Mckenzie Elem School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Wilmette, Illinois?
The top-ranked middle school in Wilmette on MySchoolScout is Wilmette Junior High School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
How many school districts serve Wilmette, Illinois?
Wilmette is served by 2 school districts: Avoca Sd 37, Wilmette Sd 39.
What is the education level in Wilmette, Illinois?
According to Census data, 85% of adults in Wilmette have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Wilmette, Illinois?
The median household income in Wilmette is approximately $190,250 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Wilmette, Illinois?
Yes, Wilmette has 6 private schools alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is Regina Dominican HS with a score of 8.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wilmette, Illinois?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Wilmette is 9.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Wilmette, 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.