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2019 Best Public High School Sports in IllinoisAbout this List

Explore the best public high schools for athletes serving your area. Ranking based on student and parent reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school. Compare the best high school sports programs in your area. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

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Best Sports
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  1. Lincoln-Way East High School

    • Lincoln Way Community High School District No. 210, IL
    • 9-12
    • 396
    #1 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: Even though there were some ups and downs at this school, I loved my experience overall. I came to this school my sophomore year after Lincoln-Way North shut down, and at first I wasn’t a huge fan. But after my first year, everyone from North and East alike started to mesh together as one big family. The school spirit is out of this world, and the education that a student can get here is absolutely stellar for a public high school. For the most part, all of the teachers actually want to be there and do their jobs with a lot of passion and effort. I’m glad I get to say I was apart of the Lincoln-Way East legacy. Go East. Go Griffins. Go Blue!
    Read 396 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 29 Total Number of Sports
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  2. Glenbard West High School

    • Glenbard Township High School District No. 87, IL
    • 9-12
    • 286
    #2 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Freshman: Over the years, Glenbard has continued to grow in answer to the ever-increasing pressure of enrollment. The first addition was made in 1926, the auditorium in 1931, and the Hilltop gym in 1936. The East wing was added to the building in 1953. Biester Gym was built in1958. In 1959 Glenbard East was built in Lombard, and the original school became Glenbard West. In 1964-65, there was a complete renovation of Glenbard West, including the addition of new choral, band, and physical science facilities. In the years that followed, our George Zahrobsky Botanical Garden, our Shakespeare Garden and our Poet’s Corner were added to further enhance the beauty of our campus. The most recent additions, a new library and fieldhouse, were completed in the fall of 2001. The school study body is exceptional, with outstanding comradery. GBW is one of the top 25 high schools in Illinois and is a great place to continue my education!
    Read 286 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 25 Total Number of Sports
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  3. Libertyville High School

    • Community High School District No. 128, IL
    • 9-12
    • 406
    #6 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Sophomore: I absolutely loved my time at Libertyville High School. The teachers are well learned and very approachable. They're flexible with their timing and willing to accommodate with my schedule... and were extremely nice! The clubs are good all around and suitable for many different personalities from debate club for the hardworking, ambitious kind to ultimate frisbee club for the chill, athletic kids. Everyone looks out for one another and the students are encouraged to be friendly as to follow the WIldcat Way. Overall, my years at LHS were amazing. There will always be a part of me connected to the school. Once a wildcat always a wildcat.
    Read 406 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 30 Total Number of Sports
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  4. Sponsored

    Quest Academy

    • Private School
    • Palatine, IL
    • PK, K-8
    • 27

    Parent: Our kids have been at Quest for the last two years and we and they have had such a wonderful experience so far! Our kids LOVE going to school everyday because they are being challenged while having fun. The small classroom sizes allow the teachers to differentiate within the classroom. The resources at Quest allow the students to be exposed to much more than they would at a high rated public school. Students as young as three are learning Spanish, there is a virtual reality lab, and technology time. All students take art, music, and drama which provide a well rounded education. We also appreciate the emphasis on character education where students are encouraged and taught to have gratitude, generosity, self discipline, honesty, modesty, respect, patience, responsibility, courage, industry, compassion, and loyalty. We highly recommend!
    Read 27 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 248 Students
    • 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Adlai E. Stevenson High School

    • Public School
    • Lincolnshire, IL
    • 9-12
    • 1,068
    #7 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: The school itself is able to provide its students with a wide range of opportunities. They also have the financial capabilities to have a wide range of clubs, classes, and passionate faculty to encourage students to pursue any career path. However, the atmosphere is uber competitive and can be very stressful at times. My biggest piece of advice to fully enjoy the school is focus on doing what you like, because you're bound to find your niche (no pun intended!) at this school!
    Read 1,068 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 31 Total Number of Sports
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  6. Hinsdale Central High School

    • Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86, IL
    • 9-12
    • 312
    #8 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: Hinsdale Central is an amazing and very diverse school. Central does a wonderful job accommodating to the needs and likes of all the students. There are over four hundred clubs and activities that are opened to all and it is very easy to start your own club. I did! The only thing that I would change is the stigma that students at Hinsdale Central have to excel in their studies and sports. Many students have a lot of stress to get into the top-tier universities and not let their parents down by not getting all A's. If I could go back and change one thing, I would make sure that all the students knew that they shouldn't worry as much about grades and schools, instead to have fun and relax because high school only happens once in your lifetime.
    Read 312 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 29 Total Number of Sports
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  7. Maine South High School

    • Maine Township High School District No. 207, IL
    • 9-12
    • 452
    #9 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Alum: As an alum, I found Maine South to offer a high quality education, with plenty of curricular and extracurricular opportunities, but also a culture that can be obnoxious and even toxic. As of the most recent report, the school is 84% white, and as a student there it seemed even whiter than that. I felt Maine South was dominated by a wannabe "fraternity/sorority" culture of mostly conservative, upper-middle-class white students, who worship the highly rated football team and other sports teams. The stellar sports programs are at the center of Maine South's culture. However, there are also plenty of extracurricular opportunities for students with interests in arts, politics, or furthering their studies. Like at many high schools, this is where students who are not accepted by the school's conservative mainstream can often shine. Maine South offers a good college prep education, especially for those students involved in the school's robust accelerated/AP infrastructure are getting .
    Read 452 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 29 Total Number of Sports
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  10. Neuqua Valley High School

    • Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204, IL
    • 9-12
    • 960
    #10 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Freshman: I love Neuqua! As you may know, Neuqua has two buildings, the Main Building (Main) and the Birkett Freshman Center (BFC). The BFC is unique to Neuqua because of it's large and distinct population. The purpose of the BFC is to make a large school small. It is very good at accomplishing that goal. There is some classes at the Main building for freshman, and there is also some classes at the BFC for upperclassmen. There is a shuttle that links both buildings. I am in couple of after-school activities myself, I have Marching Band and Pep Band. They both help with time management because they take up a lot of time and you need to schedule your time to do it well. I am also in Muslim Student Association (MSA). If you are a Muslim, it doesn't matter if you are Shia or Sunni or you go to a different mosque or masjid or if you wear a hijab or not, still attend. I go to a different mosque than everyone else. I would say to join as many clubs as possible. But not too many!
    Read 960 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 25 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Barrington High School

    • Barrington Community Unit School District No. 220, IL
    • 9-12
    • 405
    #11 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Junior: BHS is a very good school academic-wise! Although, it seems to be a school in which it funds certain clubs/activities over others. It also isn't quite diverse, which influences certain individuals to have a negative attitude towards those who aren't the white majority, which is very discouraging to witness. Other than this, the academics prepare students very well for college!
    Read 405 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 29 Total Number of Sports
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  12. Naperville Central High School

    • Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203, IL
    • 8-12
    • 494
    #12 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: There are so many ways to be involved at Naperville Central. There is a large variety of sports, clubs, and activities! Naperville Central's students have outrageous school spirit supporting so many sports games. The teachers at Naperville Central are always there to help you succeed.
    Read 494 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 27 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Prairie Ridge High School

    • Community High School District No. 155, IL
    • 9-12
    • 304
    #13 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: PR is such a wonderful school with an incredible sense of community. Everyone supports each other despite differences in certain clubs/sports. The football players respect the marching band, the soccer team comes out to the musical and vise versa, the arts support our academic teams. Everyone is welcoming and accepting to the multitude of students we have at our school. We also have the best student services office! The counselors, secretaries and college career advisors are the best resources for students and are incredibly helpful. PR embraces community between different groups, as well as between students and teachers.
    Read 304 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 22 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

    • Chicago Public Schools, IL
    • 7-12
    • 986
    #14 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: Whitney Young is amazing at most aspects! You learn so much here academically and about the world in general. There are plenty of opportunities to join sports and clubs that build relationships which can last a lifetime. Most of all my teachers were amazing and care about their jobs, you do get those teachers that are lazier but they not common at all at least for me. Also, they are making improvements in the athletics facilities at our school like a new track, football field, baseball/softball field which was something that was needed. Overall Whitney is a great school with some lows but some amazing highs I would recommend to any other prospective students thinking of coming here.
    Read 986 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 29 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Carl Sandburg High School

    • Consolidated High School District No. 230, IL
    • 9-12
    • 662
    #15 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Parent: CSHS is an incredible school in which teachers and administration truly care about the students and success of those students. My child feels safe and able to thrive. When dealing with difficult situations, administration always makes themselves available and willing to listen. Sports are engaging and focused on team work and doing the right thing by fostering sportsmanship and team work. The involvement of parents is highly encouraged and many opportunities exist to take part in various fundraisers and events.
    Read 662 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 33 Total Number of Sports
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  19. York Community High School

    • Elmhurst School District No. 205, IL
    • 9-12
    • 478
    #17 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Alum: This high school truly cares about its students. There are so many ways to get involved, sports, clubs, music, theater, etc. The teachers work extremely hard to prepare you for college and know how to teach. Teachers work with you to help you succeed in the class and the future. Classmates all work together and are always there for you. Go DUKES!
    Read 478 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 28 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Lake Forest High School

    • Public School
    • Lake Forest, IL
    • 9-12
    • 145
    #18 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: I used to attend a small school before attending Lake Forest High School, and I am glad I switched schools. Lake Forest offers wide variety of classes, clubs, and activities for its students to participate in. In addition, the school offers multiple Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes that allow students to learn at higher levels while also become more prepared for college classes. After four years of attending Lake Forest High School, I was able to learn a lot, participate in a variety of clubs, and become more prepared for the future. I highly recommend Lake Forest High School to future high schoolers.
    Read 145 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 31 Total Number of Sports
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  21. St. Charles East High School

    • St. Charles Community Unit School District No. 303, IL
    • 9-12
    • 454
    #19 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: East high school is very good school. Everybody feels welcomed here. The teachers care about you and your learning fully. People are constantly being included, and there are classes for just about everything. There are rigorous AP classes that are offered to anybody who wishes to challenge themselves. Many of the students take advantage of these opportunities and receive credit as a result. Everybody here is like a family and we all support one another. This school has helped shape who I am. The people I have met have forever changed my life. There are plenty of extra curricular activities for people to participate in as well. Sports are important, but we also have academic completions we participate in.
    Read 454 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 32 Total Number of Sports
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  22. Glenbrook North High School

    • Glenbrook High Schools District 225, IL
    • 9-12
    • 395
    #20 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: My fellow students and I had a positive experience at Glenbrook North, which can be attributed to the outstanding teachers and resources available to us. Each year, I was fortunate to learn under intelligent, caring teachers who often devoted their time to help struggling students. The support I received from a few key teachers improved my high school experience.

    Despite these positives, I hit a few bumps during high school. As a hard-of-hearing student, I have a 504 plan and specific accommodations (the use of an Assistive Listening Device, closed captioning, etc). Despite the overall wonderful staff, I met harsh resistance against my accommodations from certain staff members. These obstacles made my high school experience rougher than it would have been otherwise. When I leave GBN this upcoming Spring, I sincerely hope the effort I have put into creating a school-wide awareness of the Deaf community will allow future disabled students to have an easier experience.
    Read 395 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 30 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Wheaton Warrenville South High School

    • Community Unit School District No. 200, IL
    • 9-12
    • 471
    #22 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Parent: I have two kids at South and they both love it. The curriculum is challenging and you can customize it with honors/AP as fits your abilities. One of my kids is in sports and the coaches are excellent, encouraging values and pushing the kids in academics too. The arts programs are also excellent such as show choir and speech team. There's something for everyone!
    Read 471 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 23 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Cary-Grove Community High School

    • Community High School District No. 155, IL
    • 9-12
    • 333
    #24 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: Students and staff are very accepting and kind. Teachers, staff, counselors, the nurse, the administration all go out of their way to support students. I have been able to take challenging AND fun classes as well as be involved in a variety of activities in which I am interested! When I wanted to create the new art club, staff volunteered right away to make sure it could happen!
    Read 333 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 22 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Edwardsville High School

    • Edwardsville Community Unit School District No. 7, IL
    • 9-12
    • 372
    #25 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Junior: I'm so glad I go to this school. The classes (that I take) are largely discussion-based and often prompt a higher level of thinking. The teachers are so engaged and dedicated to the success of their students. It is so easy for students to actively get involved in the community as well; community service, job shadowing, and internships are all extremely common here. I love how my peers all have passions that drive them to work hard and reach for the stars. The people are so friendly and accepting here, too. If you want to send your child to a school where they'll be inspired to pursue dreams and make a difference in this world, send them to Edwardsville High School. Without EHS, I wouldn't have the confidence that I have today to apply to schools like Northwestern, Columbia, Harvard, and Duke. We're so proud to be Tigers!
    Read 372 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 26 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Prospect High School

    • Township High School District No. 214, IL
    • 9-12
    • 420
    #26 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: I loved Prospect High School! Throughout my past four years as a student there, I was given countless opportunities to thrive and succeed. The academics are rigorous and challenging, but manageable and enriching with the help of the beyond-qualified teachers. Prospect gave me a safe, supportive place to grow personally and intellectually. I feel fully prepared to move on to college, thanks to the incredible resources and knowledge I have been given.
    Read 420 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 27 Total Number of Sports
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  29. Bolingbrook High School

    • Valley View Community Unit School District No. 365-U, IL
    • 9-12
    • 752
    #29 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: My experience at Bolingbrook High School was very extraordinary. Bolingbrook High School offers multiple sources for each student to find their passion and drive for what they want to accomplish in their lives. Also, they offer multiple outlooks to recognize the great achievements of its students. For example, I have been allowed to show my abilities not only through academics but also other extracurricular activities. Furthermore, Bolingbrook consist of many different races and religions, so one is able to learn about many different cultures and build very diverse connections. My time at Bolingbrook HIgh School has been nothing but amazing.
    Read 752 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 23 Total Number of Sports
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  30. Harold L. Richards High School

    • Community High School District No. 218, IL
    • 9-12
    • 277
    #30 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: My favorite part about Harold L. Richards High School is our school pride. Every student, every teacher, and even our parents are always excited with Bulldog pride. We're one of the smaller schools in our district; and we haven't always made nationals in sports competitions, but you wouldn't know it if you came to one of our games. You'd see a sea of black and gold cheering on our best and not-so-best players, win or lose. You'd hear parents, students, and teachers chanting "Go Bulldogs" to the top of their lungs while the band plays a ridiculously loud number. You'd see me dancing and smiling and thinking that these moments would last a lifetime.

    So when I look back on my high school experience at Harold L. Richards, sure, I'll appreciate all of the friends that I made and the teachers who supported us -- even if it meant learning some difficult lessons. But the number one thing I'll keep with me in my memory forever is the pride that we have for our school. Go Bulldogs!
    Read 277 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 50 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your School

  32. Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School

    • Public School
    • Bradley, IL
    • 9-12
    • 338
    #32 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Sophomore: The teachers here definitely help you follow your path to success. They not only teach what is on their syllabus, but they also inspire students by creating an environment where they can succeed. They teach you the lessons that you need once you go off into the real world. The students here really matter to the teaching staff. This is shown everyday when we walk into our classrooms knowing we can succeed. That’s what every teen needs to know is that they can succeed and the teachers are eager to help them climb the mountain to success!
    Read 338 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 25 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Naperville North High School

    • Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203, IL
    • 9-12
    • 438
    #33 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: I love NNHS! These four years are great. NNHS has tons of club and during the senior year, we are able to create our own club. Since I played the piano since I was four, and picked up violin at age of 14, I joined school musical and orchestra. Teachers and students are fantastic! They are all nice, friendly, and hard working. As a senior who participated in the musical for three years, I am proud to say that our music culture has been part of NNHS culture!
    Read 438 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 27 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Phillips Academy High School

    • Chicago Public Schools, IL
    • 9-12
    • 146
    #34 Best High School Sports in Illinois

    Senior: My experience at Phillips Academy has been very good,The school has good teachers who really care about and understand their students. Phillips will help you get into any college you want, they are going to make sure that everyone is on track to be successful in life.
    Read 146 Reviews

    • C-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 14 Total Number of Sports
    View Nearby Homes
  35. Sponsored

    St. Benedict Preparatory School

    • Private School
    • Chicago, IL
    • PK, K-8
    • 7

    Parent: We are in our 3rd year as a St. Benedict family and we couldn't be happier. Our 2nd grader absolutely LOVES going to school. She recently started in student council, in SECOND GRADE! The extracurriculars, from Running Club to Dance and Violin, there is something for every child, no matter the interest. They're making great strides in technology as well with their recent 1:1 device rollout, STEM curriculum, new cyber security as well as new safety measures puts them on the cutting edge.

    The culture is fantastic as well. We quickly made lifelong friends and we can all count on each other - it takes a village.

    St Bens is a fantastic school and they continue to make great strides toward becoming one of the leading private schools on the northside.
    Read 7 Reviews

    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 715 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  36. Sponsored

    Whittle School & Studios

    • Opening September 2019, Private School
    • Washington, DC
    • PK, K-10
    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • — Students
    • — Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
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