2023 Best Public High Schools in Illinois

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  413 reviews

Senior: I've been here for all four years and I love this school! Truly, the best part of the school is the teachers. Of course, you'll have a few that aren't your favorite, but I've found teachers I really admire. They are here because they love to teach. The student body as a whole is also really great, at least for my years here. We went through a lot of administration struggles, but what pulled us together was our support for our teachers and the shared values that we have as students. The course load is challenging but manageable, but I also felt really well prepared from my elementary school. All that being said, Payton has many normal issues like any high school (some student drama, mediocre/bad food, people that you like and don't like, etc).... Read 413 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,191

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  603 reviews

Senior: Northside is very inclusive and lively. Students are involved in all parts of the school such as the production of a musical, the display of sculptural work, and even the spread of awareness for minority groups. At Northside, the individual is strengthened in personal and academic identity. It’s rigorous tasks and unique class schedules prepare students for college academia. As a fellow Northsider, I can say that there was a difficult adjustment to Northside’s expectations, however, I have found an amazing and supportive community alongside it. If you are considering Northside, I hope you are warmed by it’s strengths in education and community!... Read 603 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,041

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Aurora, IL•

• Public School•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  359 reviews

Senior: IMSA is a fantastic school for students who want to take their education to the next level. The diversity and academics are excellent, and the shared culture between the students is incredible. That being said, the high workload causes many students to encounter mental health challenges. Lack of proper nutrition, hygiene, and sleep are more common at this high school than at others. Most students get an average of 3-4 hours of homework per day, which can be difficult to balance with mental health, clubs, and other commitments. There is a club for practically every interest a student could have, and there is always something to do on campus. The residential environment allows for deeper connections with peers and establishes lifelong relationships. The biggest issue at IMSA is the administration, which routinely makes questionable decisions that clearly do not consider student input. Overall, IMSA is one of a kind, and the positives of the school definitely outweigh the negatives.... Read 359 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 629

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  1,158 reviews

Sophomore: Whitney Young is a great school with great academics and athletics. There are hundreds of clubs to choose from. The school prepares kids for academic success and college readiness. The teachers are caring and the administration makes sure there are rules set in place to help everyone in the school feel at home. The teachers, except maybe 1 or 2, have been the best and are always open to listen to you. The athletic teams always win championships each year and they are supplied with lots of equipment and everything they need. There are many resources helping students in many different ways, like the counseling department and much more. The students all feel well connected to the staff and the weekly newsletter, "The Weekly" answers the concerns or questions that a student may bring up. The school is very diverse, and everyone feels included. There are many safety protocols that everyone must follow to help everyone feel safe. Overall, my time at Whitney Young has been great!... Read 1,158 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,121

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Urbana, IL•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  177 reviews

Junior: Overall, I’ve had a really good experience at Uni! Academics are mostly really good. I’ve had some less than stellar teachers—many of whom are knowledgeable in their subject areas, but struggle teaching them at a beginner level—but others have been incredible. The workload‘s tough, but manageable if you’re not overloaded with extracurriculars. There’s a diversity of personalities in the student body, but kids are generally passionate and motivated, and mostly very friendly. There’s some competition in academics and extracurriculars (especially related to college apps), and also somewhat of a culture of cynicism and negativity. Still, I’ve met some amazing people, and I wouldn’t swap my experience for a more typical high school one. I’d say the biggest advantage of Uni is the breadth of opportunities offered by our connection with the U of I, from enrolling in college classes to working with professors to attending undergrad events to grabbing boba on Green St. during free period.... Read 177 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 314

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  1,235 reviews

Freshman: My experience at SHS was pretty good this year as a freshman! Having this be my first year, I was pretty scared and a bit hesitant to continue the next 4 years at this huge school. But Stevenson is a super welcoming place, with amazing teachers, staff and students. They have this thing called freshman orientation, which is the day before school starts. A bunch of our juniors and seniors come in to guide us through the school, and answer questions we have. These same Fmp leaders are the main people for advisory, which is another program assisted to help freshmen meet new people. Advisory takes place during half our lunch, and in my opinion was pretty fun, we played games, did activities and I met a lot of close friends in it. I didn’t mind advisory, but I know a lot of other people didn’t like the fact that it was a whole year, so maybe a suggestion would be making it only for the 1st semester so we can have full lunch 2nd semester. But overall I thank shs for such a great first year!... Read 1,235 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,315

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  734 reviews

Alum: Coming from the far south side of Chicago, attending Jones College Prep was a unique experience for me. I met people of various backgrounds, which opened my mind to different perspectives. To get to school, I took public transportation, allowing me to explore the city for all its diverse neighborhoods. I was able to see demographic changes and injustices on the train ride to school. It made me interested in gaining knowledge on the inequity within the city. I got to bring those ideas to school and write about them, and people listened. New ideas were welcomed and embraced and that's something I liked about going to Jones. Having come from different neighborhoods, it was expected that everyone would come with biases and prejudices. And they did. Ideals and values were challenged in a variety of ways, whether that be by microaggressions, racial slurs, or stereotyping. Although the school addressed some of these issues, Jones could do a better job at creating safer spaces for POC.... Read 734 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,915

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  380 reviews

Senior: Hinsdale Central High School is a great place for students to grow academically, socially, and personally. The teachers here are excellent and push you past your limits. The classes are challenging, and sometimes they make you want to quit. However, you’ll reap immense benefits if you just stick through it. The only thing I would change about this school is for the guidance counselors to believe more in their students. Generally speaking, the counselors at this school are wonderful, intelligent, and very helpful. However, some of them tend to doubt their students or only help students who come from affluent or otherwise prestigious backgrounds.... Read 380 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,613

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  3,174 reviews

Senior: Lane Tech is an amazing school where the students are diverse and the resources are numerous. Students have access to well-qualified teachers and aid. Lane Tech excels in all areas: the sports teams dominate their fields, there are over 100 student-led clubs, our theater productions and choirs are superb. This list can continue endlessly because Lane Tech stops at nothing to succeed and provide its students with as many resources and opportunities as possible. The only problem with Lane Tech is that its students do not always feel heard, thus this year alone Lane Tech has started numerous committees dedicated to voicing the opinions of the student body and bringing problems directly to the administration. I would highly recommend this school to anyone because it serves everyone. My biggest piece of advice is to network and not to prohibit yourself from branching out. Instead, put yourself out there! There will always be a group willing to accept you with open and loving arms.... Read 3,174 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,369

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Glenbrook High Schools District 225, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  537 reviews

Alum: Great School! A lot of resources available to students to guarantee success, but it all depends on the student's intent. Advising could definitely be better in terms of a more thorough pipeline after graduating instead of just classes. The school facilities are unmatched thought. It is incredible how big the campus is and how many resources the school has. Many schools in the state can only dream of such facilities as 2 pools, the sports fields, and the state of the art technology. My experience at GBS had some issues because at times the school ran itself in a very totalitarian way. The school administrators rarely advocated for the growth among students belonging to lower class families. This also translated to inability to motivate social mobility, by having more disadvantaged students not be tempted to take advanced placement courses. Regardless the school prepared me well for college.... Read 537 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,139

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  1,127 reviews

Senior: I am going to be a senior at Neuqua Valley this upcoming school year. There is great diversity throughout all the grade levels and minority groups have tripled in size throughout all my 3 years. The staff are very passionate about teaching the youth and are open to helping students during their lunch periods in the ARC. There is great variety of clubs, intramurals, sports, and activities at Neuqua! Cohesively, the students are nice, including, and make you feel welcomed into school. If you were to look at the school geographically, you would see that there are two campuses in the area. There’s a gold campus for the incoming Freshman, to get eased into the high school environment, and there’s a Blue campus for the upperclassmen! It is another great upside to Neuqua as it helps the freshmen overcome school anxiety. Last but not least, the school cirriculum and course catalog has a large variety of classes to captivate students attention, even if they are undecided in a career path!... Read 1,127 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,403

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Glenbrook High Schools District 225, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  451 reviews

Sophomore: In general, Glenbrook North High school offers one of the best education program and curriculum in Illinois! Our school provides many educational opportunities and challenges for each and every student currently attending this specific high school! In other words, GBN provides high-level sport activities, clubs, as well as projects! As a current sophomore, I've been able to obtain leadership and social skills as a community member of GBN! As a regular participant of Key Club and Medical Club, I've been able to achieve long-term goals I've set for my overall high school experience through interacting with other students and assisting their needs. I am proud to say every single teacher at our school is fair and equal to each and every student of Glenbrook North High school.... Read 451 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,025

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  632 reviews

Senior: As a senior, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my high school journey. I am proud to say that I have attended William Fremd for the past four years. Known as one of the most rigorous public schools in Illinois, Fremd has pushed me academically and I feel ready to go on to college. I am grateful for the AP classes Fremd has to offer and the wonderful teachers who teach these courses. My peers rank high academically and they motivate me each day to do my best. Besides the academics, Fremd has so many fascinating clubs and activities available for students. This is a great way to meet new people and explore your passions. If I could change one thing about Fremd, I would add more language courses to the curriculum. Fremd is a very diverse school, but we don’t offer diverse classes. As a first-generation student, I would love the opportunity to take a language class in my foreign language. Overall, Fremd is a superb place and I am proud to be a Viking!... Read 632 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,650

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Community High School District 128, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  375 reviews

Senior: My experience at Vernon Hills High School has been wonderful! I have grown to enjoy my academic studies, have had the ability to join clubs and athletics, and had the chance to grow amazing connections with teachers that I am able to call my role models. The hands-on environment from the community grants superb opportunities that most schools do not support. I also love that I was able to know most of my classmates due to the number of people who also attend Vernon Hills High School. It allows me to create more friendships and connections with unforgettable people. My time at VHHS has been great, and I learned important life lessons from all aspects of high school!... Read 375 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,570

• Student-teacher ratio —

• New Trier Township High School District No. 203, IL•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  570 reviews

Parent: I never went to New Trier. I attended Loyola. And for the most part, we didn't like New Trier kids: rich, arrogant, brash. Fast forward 30 years and now I have a son who goes to New Trier. All the stereotypes that us city kids had about them were false. This is a wonderful school. Yes it's big. Yes it lacks diversity. But that being said, its facilities and faculty are nothing less than excellent. You have tutors on standby for every subject. There are hundreds of clubs, research programs and specialized academic studies that can rival a private college. The athletics are on a different level. And I'm not talking about the competition. There is plenty of that. I am referring to the infrastructure: turf fields, training programs, physical trainers assigned to sports teams and a huge indoor sports complex. It's incredible. Lastly, the kids. They are open-minded, understanding and supportive . I couldn't have asked for a better high school for my kid.... Read 570 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,040

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Lake Forest, IL•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  172 reviews

Alum: This school is a very high-top type of school. The outside environment is beautiful! The teachers here are very well educated and want the best for your education and future. This school is very diverse and offers very diverse programs to learn about different cultures and perspectives. The classes are very well taught and this school also provides fun activities. It isn't just booked, this school gives you the whole experience. To dances, clubs, sports teams, and other fun things and events. During my years at LFHS, I was able to gain the skills to become a great student and feel well educated. If I would have kids, I would 100% make sure they attend this high school.... Read 172 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,501

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Barrington Community Unit School District No. 220, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  490 reviews

Senior: Barrington High School is a large high school in the heart of Barrington that offers its students a wide range of academic classes, activities, and clubs to participate in. What I personally enjoy most about Barrington are its unique elective courses. In particular, they offer a variety of of art classes that specialize on art ranging from photography to ceramics to digital art. Another aspect of Barrington that I enjoy is its school spirit and its teachers' true dedication and care for their students. I have had many teachers throughout my high school career and I can say that the majority of them put every effort to help their students, making sure they were set up for success. Overall, being at Barrington these past four years has been a blessing and something I will never forget!... Read 490 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,872

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  690 reviews

Senior: Metea has a lot of resources for motivated students to succeed! Especially for students interested in the business field (there is the business professionals of America and DECA) and law/political science (youth and government). Overall, the staff is pretty decent for the humanities classes and just okay for math; however, much of the science staff are not well-versed in their subject and students should be expected to self-teach themselves. With that said, I have had my share of effective science teachers, but generally they are a hit or miss.... Read 690 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,018

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  547 reviews

Alum: I really liked the environment of Conant. I always felt very included and involved. However the general culture of Conant could be toxic. Sometimes the faculty and administration disregarded student needs in order to make the school look better. I wish this would change. Some teachers would also, very obviously, show favoritism which would get annoying. Overall Conant offered a very good academic environment. Conant also always had something for everyone, whether it was a club or a sport, Conant had it or had the capacity to create it.... Read 547 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,435

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Glenbard Township High School District No. 87, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  364 reviews

Parent: My children are currently the third generation to attend Glenbard West High School. This is not unusual, because families move to and stay in the community for the school. It is an amazing school with top notch and caring teachers, a dedicated administration and a high maintenance parent community. They continually exceed expectations and when they don't, the school addresses concerns to improve. When graduates attend college, they often reference that they were well prepared and were able to thrive in their higher education environment. The school works hard to be an environment that is welcoming to everyone!... Read 364 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,373

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  535 reviews

Senior: Many clubs and sports opportunities are available. That's great! Needs more enthusiastic teachers! More interaction with various subjects other than studies is helpful and needed. Also would appreciate quick email response from teachers. If students are expected to submit their assignments on time then teachers are also expected to reply to email in given time. Parents teacher conferences are totally unnecessary and not useful. parents should approach teachers if they are concern about their students in any way. Conferences are held for 3 minutes to each students. Not at all enough time and it just ends up in sentence that email me if you have further questions! Frankly school time should be reduced for seniors. Mostly teachers teach twice in a week and rest of the days they tell us to work on our own and finish any other home work or assignments for different subjects. Food definitely needs lots of improvements. It need vegetarian variety and more options and better quality.... Read 535 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,713

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  603 reviews

Junior: As a junior who has been at Naperville Central for all three years of my learning career, I am excited to continue my senior year here! Naperville Central is a highly academic-focused high school with many course opportunities. Central offers honors, dual credit, and AP level classes to challenge students to reach their full academic potential. Teachers truly care about your education, as they frequently check in with your progress. Not to mention, Naperville Central has a variety of clubs so everyone can get involved in activities/hobbies that they enjoy. I truly feel a sense of community here, as Central has a built-in period called SOAR to focus on a student's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. My favorite part about Central is how diverse it is. The curriculum in each class makes sure to go over how different aspects of our society affect every culture. Regular field trips allow students to experience different cultures.... Read 603 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,640

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Township High School District No. 113, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  312 reviews

Senior: Deerfield High School is a strong academic environment that promotes collaboration and exploration. The teachers tend to promote supportive environments for their students and there is many options on types of courses and levels for each student to personalize their experiences. The social scene of Deerfield High School can be hit or miss, but there are many ways to find the community right for you.... Read 312 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,555

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Township High School District No. 113, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  275 reviews

Senior: Highland Park High School is inclusive for all students and the value of learning and academics HPHS holds is incomparable. Recently, the lunch room and library were updated to provide an inclusive environment for all grade levels, races, and genders. Additionally, HPHS has added several conveniently located all-gender bathrooms and locker rooms that have improved the comfort of students. HPHS shows their care for students' health and well-being by offering nutritious (and delicious) school lunches and snacks, as well as new and affordable EKG screenings for students to take part in during their physical education classes. I have received the best support and learning experience from my teachers at HPHS. If I need extra help in class, with post-secondary planning, or with outside troubles, I receive it from my teachers and counselors. As a senior at HPHS, I can confidently say that HPHS strives to give students an unforgettable education and experience that I will forever cherish.... Read 275 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,831

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  593 reviews

Senior: I'm currently a senior and I honestly really like the school. Most of the teachers I've had impacted me in not only my academic life but my outside life. I've learned many new writing skills from my past English teachers that have helped me get into AP/honors classes. The staff is very helpful and welcoming. Lots of teachers are chill and willing to be flexible with dilemmas that might affect datelines etc. Especially during this time due to the pandemic. The school also provides an abundant amount of clubs, sports, activities and higher education opportunities to take part in. I've made many connections with students in all grades along with a couple staff members. I am sad about having to leave all of this in a couple months. For any future students reading this please take an advantage of all the opportunities this school has to offer! Try out for all the things you want, talk to all kinds of students because before you know it you'll be a senior.... Read 593 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,563

• Student-teacher ratio —