When it comes to high school, you don’t need to pay a fortune to get a good education. There are public high schools all around the country that are preparing students for the future.
School data site Niche just released its list of the 100 best public high schools in America. Many are magnet schools, meaning they pull in qualified students from around their districts.
Niche ranks over 100,000 schools based on 27 million reviews from more than 300,000 students and parents, who rated schools in areas like academics, teachers, student culture and diversity, and resources and facilities.
Chicagoland schools in the Top 100:
2. Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: A-
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A+
“Stevenson can be a pressure cooker, but it has met my needs in every way,” one senior said. A recent alum added, “Every student gets an iPad that they can use throughout the year” and the high school is the first in the nation to receive LEED Gold Certification.
6. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School (Chicago, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: A+
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A-
“Every classroom is equipped with a smartboard or projector and every teacher has a laptop which can be used as a tablet to make classes more interactive,” said one senior, adding that teachers provide valuable one-on-one tutoring during free periods.
9. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (Chicago, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: A+
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: B+
“We all work together to move forward and excel. Rather than trying to out-smart the student next to us, we work together to out-perform other schools,” one senior said.
17. Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: A+
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A-
A junior said, “Students are constantly starting their own clubs, and all contribute to the Northside community.”
18. Glenbrook North High School (Northbrook, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A+
“I moved to this school my tenth grade year and since then my grades have increased greatly,” a senior said. “The teachers are phenomenal and they take the time to make sure that their students fully understand the topic being taught.”
19. Glenbrook South High School (Glenview, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: A-
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A
One freshman said, “Many students attend some of the best colleges in the country. This school has given us the resources to succeed in life.”
20. New Trier Township High School (Winnetka, Illinois)
Student Culture & Diversity Grade: C+
Academics Grade: A+
Teachers Grade: A+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A
“Students at NT will walk away knowing the skills of self advocacy and presentation,” said a school senior. “Many NT students attend top tier colleges.”
27. Hinsdale Central High School (Hinsdale, Illinois)
29. Vernon Hills High School (Vernon Hills, Illinois)
42. Libertyville High School (Libertyville, Illinois)
44. Neuqua Valley High School (Naperville, Illinois)
54. Deerfield High School (Deerfield, Illinois)
68. Highland Park High School (Highland Park, Illinois)
72. Evanston Township High School (Evanston, Illinois)
89. Naperville Central High School (Naperville, Illinois)
Source: Niche via Business Insider