2024 Best Charter Schools in the Chicago Area

• Grayslake, IL•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Alum: Great infrastructure such that if you get a good teacher, they are given the freedom to give an expansive, personal, innovative, and enjoyable education.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A

• Students 432

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Community Unit School District No. 300, IL•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  15 reviews

Works Here: I have worked at this school for over three years now and I feel like it just continues to get better and better. Like any school that exists, there are always ups and downs, but Cambridge Lakes Charter school sticks out to me because we are always growing and improving. I feel able to speak to any of the staff members and share collaboration and ideas. I have been given opportunities for growth and to be able to make things better for the grades that I have taught. I have loved getting to work with the families in the community and work with them in guiding their students through success in education. I love the students and all the creative ideas that they have given me while teaching. I have grown more in working at this school every year that I have been here. I highly recommend CLCS to future staff members, families, and students!... Read 15 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 834

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  97 reviews

Senior: I really love CMSA, it helps kids and teens learn a lot. They are a very kind, respectful, and diverse school. There is a wide spread of culture representatives in the school. Its really safe and nice there they take care of students and really make sure they succeed in life. They respect all races and religions great for Muslim students.... Read 97 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 572

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Richton Park, IL•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  248 reviews

Senior: As a graduating senior at Southland College Prep High School, I can confidently say that my time here has been nothing short of outstanding. My school's lottery picked me, and I am eternally grateful. Tutoring and mentoring are only two of the many support services available to students at Southland. Students in Southland also have a lot of different opportunities. The number of honors and advanced placement options is significant, for instance. To counteract the school's strict adherence to the rules and its emphasis on academics, I think it should relax its grip on student-organized extracurricular activities. Aside from academics, high school should be a fun place to share memories with friends and try new things. Generally speaking, I am pretty satisfied with my educational experience, and I would encourage any prospective first-year student to apply for admission through the Southland lottery.... Read 248 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 579

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  55 reviews

Alum: At Pritzker College Prep, students receive a great education from passionate teachers, and participate in extracurricular activities to further their passions or to introduce them to something new that they may become passionate about. There are endless ways for students to get involved. Students also have the ability to create their own after school clubs if they do not find one that specifically interests them. During my time there, I was involved in several sports and in a few clubs like choir club. I was also working on community service, which is something all students are required to do. One thing I both like and dislike about Pritzker was the uniform. It was great not having to think about what you'd wear the next day, but it became annoying when teachers would reprimand students for small uniform mistakes like having a belt that was a color other than black. Overall, my experience at Pritzker is a valuable one that I will never forget.... Read 55 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 970

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Porter, IN•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade B+

• Students 512

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  61 reviews

Senior: My experience at MCP has been very good and it went by so fast. A lot of people think that Noble charter schools are strict but speaking from experience, theyŕe no different than any other high school. Our school is very diverse in the faculty as well as the students. Students come from just about every zip code in the entire city of Chicago. Muchin doesn´t allow you to just be lazy. They support you academically and in any way they can to help you succeed. Muchin gives progress reports every 2 weeks. Parents can know how their kid is doing in their classes. If you don´t do your homework you´re required to stay after school to get it done. Thatś a great way to ensure that students actually get their homework done like theyŕe supposed to and it helps them stay on track. One of the last things that I like the most about Muchin is that the school is downtown. We have access to the best food, shopping, and culture that people come from all over the world to see. We see it everyday!... Read 61 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 957

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: My experience while attending Intrinsic was overall really good and helpful. My teachers helped and guided me towards my goals. They helped me though my darkest times and showed me that I am capable of doing great thing with others or on my own. I am proud that I was able to attend Intrinsic from grades 9-12 because if I hadn’t, then I do not know what I would want to do after high school.... Read 8 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 770

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.53 out of 5  58 reviews

Senior: My experiences in ITW David Speer Academy during these past 4 years have been an amazing journey. ITW has taught me so many things not only academically but stuff that can help me in my adulthood. What's more amazing about this school is that every teacher likes to make a strong relationship with every student to make them feel like they're not their teacher but also a friend that they can count on them. People might say that this school is very strict but in reality, it's not there's just a rule that if you don't follow their consequences but I feel that its one of the things that I'm truly grateful for having because if it wasn't because of these rules and consquences we wouldn't be the mature people we are now. The amount of support that parents and students receive from all the staff members really makes you feel like you are at home and gives parents more confidence about living their kids at school. They're very serious of making everyone involved in school activities.... Read 58 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,159

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  40 reviews

Senior: Chicago Bulls is a very well known place where students could bond and learn together as a school. We grow as a school and we learn not only our studies but each other as well, although the food may not be all great but they still provide and that's all. This school is a community that welcomes everyone regardless of background, race, gender identity and more. This is a school that is based off of the pride of the students and I feel absolutely welcomed here and I would definitely recommend to any middle schoolers that are unsure on which high school they want to go to. This school as made me feel confident and comfortable to be myself and strive to be more, I able to make good friends easily and never felt like an outer because they always involved me in activities. The teachers here are absolutely amazing, they understand me and if not they would try to understand me and would sympathize with me as best as they can, to them I am not just a student I am human... Read 40 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,172

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  45 reviews

Alum: Rauner was not a school I expected to go to, but I’m glad I did. Academically, they supported me well, considering my other school had not done a very good job in doing so.. and really took a hit on my GPA. Upon enrolling into this school I was provided with a multitude of resources and opportunities. There’s scholarship programs that the school is affiliated to (Posse, Questbridge), and in my last year I was grateful for the collegiate class and team. Being a first gen student I had no idea what to do in order to get into college and neither did my family. I was able to get into my dream school and am very grateful for the support. However, the students aren’t very supportive or positive. Because it is such a small school, negative air is potent even with small disputes among peers. I did meet some good people there, but overall it is hard to make genuine connections with people who are set on keeping others away and out.... Read 45 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 647

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  26 reviews

Alum: This school isn't perfect. In fact, from the 10 years that I've been going to HSA I can say that it is very much far from it. From my point of view, any student's experience at HSA will depend on the effort put by said student. If they put time and effort into their classes and extra-curriculars, they'll have an amazing experience. If they don't focus on that, they'll be like the many students who attend her that simply put the blame on the teachers or staff for not having a good learning environment, which really isn't true. All the teachers are willing to help out and be your friend so much as you show that you care. It's as simple as that. The only real gripe that I have had in my time at HSA is that during our high school experience, there were so many times where our college advisor was either really unresponsive or terrible with her timing. As of now with the current advisor, be ready to do a good chunk of college research and paperwork on your own when you really need it.... Read 26 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 864

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  68 reviews

Senior: The UIC College Prep (UICCP) experience will remain pleasant and unforgettable. However, movie high school expectations were quite different. The dream of wearing various clothes caved to tight uniform rules. Nevertheless, making friends was not as difficult, especially on the first day! The school has many extracurricular activities. While I failed at basketball, I excelled in choir and ROTC! Engagement in activities and clubs created channels to unique experiences I would not have gotten elsewhere. The teachers genuinely care about the students' future. They prepared students for life, which explains the tremendous amount of homework and quizzes. Thanks to our college counselors for preparing and supporting each senior through the college application process. Indeed, UICCP lives to its mission by instilling discipline, building unique characters, and raising law-abiding youth. Indeed, learning is persistent and deliberate, and success is intentional, strenuous, and yet achievable!... Read 68 reviews

• grade B

• Students 911

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  506 reviews

Senior: Noble Street College Prep is a school where you probably don't expect much from the environment or the teachers. But, as a student, I've gradually grown to appreciate this school and what it has to offer.As a senior, I dearly appreciate my college seminar teachers because they are the most helpful people here to set you up for life after high school. My advisor is the sweetest and most caring person I've ever met, and I can see how much she truly cares about me and my advisees. Although the school food isn't the best, the school environment is because there are many restaurants and hidden little stores that you can enjoy on your own or with friends.... Read 506 reviews

• grade B

• Students 674

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  37 reviews

Senior: I enjoy time at The Noble Academy along with friends and staff. We’ve been giving the opportunity to participate in many school organized events as well as events that have been made by us, the students. I furthermore enjoy attending many of the soccer games which have become really competitive throughout time.... Read 37 reviews

• grade B

• Students 568

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  113 reviews

Senior: I started out as a 7th grader and finished as a Senior. My first impression of the school was how it did not look like a school. I have enjoyed the teachers, environment, and freedoms that have come with the school. Im glad we have the ability to work with chromebooks and not lug around heavy books. By far my favorite thing about intrinsic is their connection the staff build with you and the effort they put in to making sure you're ready for the next part of your life, whatever that may be.... Read 113 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,036

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hammond, IN•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  71 reviews

Junior: Overall, my experience at my school is something I truly appreciate. It is a sixth grade through twelfth grade school. And I enjoy growing up with the same classmates, including new ones. It’s good to see each and everyone one of them grow into their own person. I enjoy my school because it is a small school as well. You get to know your classmates better, and even the grade above or below you pretty well. You also get to grow a bond with the teachers. One of my greatest role models was my sixth grade global studies teacher. With all that being said, a small school does have its downsides. The athletics and overall sports aren’t very good. And they don’t offer any honors or AP classes. Students who need a challenge or want to get ahead with college credits, like myself, would like to have that option.... Read 71 reviews

• grade B

• Students 536

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: My experience overall is amazing. I like going to this school and being able to see my friends everyday and have fun. I like how the teachers include everyone to participate and not just the same people all the time. The teachers and staff are really nice and considerate. They care for their students and help them. Students work with eachother and help their peers which I love. Their cafeteria food is great! Just to sum everything up, it’s a good school; however, something I don’t like is that we have to wear uniforms. Their policies have changed as well. Now, we have to carry our books instead of carrying our backpacks. We have to leave our backpacks in our lockers.... Read 26 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 900

• Student-teacher ratio 129:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: I can't say enough good things about this school. The sense of community is huge. The teachers and staff know all the kids and the families and kids have a nice community. I would definitely recommend taking a tour of this school, because it will be obvious as soon as you enter the building. My kids have thrived here, even during the pandemic. The teachers are the best! There are also lots of extracurricular opportunities for the kids, and a strong PTO.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• Students 511

• Student-teacher ratio 34:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Senior: Acero de la cruz has been helpful to me especially with my sickle cell and social anxiety. I have hard time making friends because of my social anxiety which has made me feel excluded and nervous but when I got to Acero cruz I got the confident to talk and communicate woth people. Acero cruz has made me a better person and they gave me access to Elevator because of my sickle cell which is harmful but being able to ride the elevator has made me energetic and better person. I am grateful to be at Acero cruz because it feels like home and it made me feel very happy.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 540

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Alum: Awesome school! Sets you up for high school and enhances our social skills. The only improvement I would make is the food. Some days the food would be cold by the time the 8th graders come in. Other then that this school is amazing!... Read 2 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 1,009

• Student-teacher ratio 112:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  38 reviews

Alum: My high school experience at Golder College Prep has affected my personal growth both inside and outside of the classroom by encouraging me to attend college and achieve my own objectives, making me more independent, helping me make better choices, and more. Throughout the two years I’ve been at Golder I have gained a lot of support from many staff members that taught me how to be more efficient. I loved being involved with the school and different programs and with Golder they allow you to start your own program/club. Which creates a perfect opportunity for everyone to fit in and find something they love to do. My overall experience at Golder has been amazing and such an impactful experience.... Read 38 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 669

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• K-8

• grade B minus

• Students 268

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  36 reviews

Works Here: ACE Amandla is an inclusive school that really fosters a culture of growth and learning! Students get the opportunity to not only prepare for college but also for trades in architecture, construction, and engineering.... Read 36 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 135

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• K-8

• grade C+

• Students 580

• Student-teacher ratio 116:1