2023 Best Schools for STEM in Illinois

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  418 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 418 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,191

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Aurora, IL•

• Public School•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  361 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 361 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 629

• 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 —

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  136 reviews

Sophomore: I was a student at lab since preschool, and I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The lower grades especially had something special about them. Elementary classes were based on projects and exploration, rather than rigid academics, which allowed me as a student to grow at my own pace. Middle school and high school were less special, but it remained a positive experience. Classes were challenging enough and there were a variety of more difficult options if we were advanced in a certain topic. One great thing about the upper grades are their clubs. Clubs and teams are open to anyone, no matter their skill. This allowed me to explore things I was interested in, without having the worry of tryouts or not being good enough. In my years at the school, I never experienced bullying, and rarely came across it with other students. That said my circle was a small and close-knit group, and that might not have been the experience of all.... Read 136 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,051

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• 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 —

• Lake Forest, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  72 reviews

Parent: During this pandemic, we are very grateful that Lake Forest Academy has provided a safe learning environment for our son and other boarders. The impact is minimized with the best efforts.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 436

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  1,159 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 1,159 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,121

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  113 reviews

Middle School Student: At Latin there is an excellent academic program. The staff tries their best to make sure we succeed no matter what we are trying to do. You can choose almost any sport and the teachers will train you and help you grow. There is almost any club you can choose and if you don’t see one you like you can make your own. They are super organized and have been so prepared for any issues that come their way. In general Latin has given me an amazing experience and I definitely recommend!... Read 113 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,155

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

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

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  572 reviews

Senior: Overall my experience at New Trier High School has been a positive one. Majority of teachers recognize the individual student and treat students accordingly. Most of my teachers have shown me compassion that has fueled my academic success. My experience in athletics and academic clubs has provided me with invaluable skills, preparing me for a successful career. Athletics and academic clubs provide unique opportunities for all students, regardless of past experience, leading to confident students willing to take athletic and academic risks. Despite the large student population, accessibility of various communities provides students with intimate relationships and meaningful connections. Unfortunately, this same praise cannot be applied towards the diversity of New Trier’s student population. The lack of diversity within the student and teacher population is worrisome and in order to have a program that produces truly well-educated and accepting students, this issue must be addressed.... Read 572 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,040

• Student-teacher ratio —

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  381 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 381 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,613

• 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 —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  739 reviews

Senior: Very diverse, beautiful school in the heart of downtown Chicago. The academics are great and one can make the most of their high school experience through a plethora of student involvement activities. Such activities include but aren't limited to: a variety of sports (from bowling to soccer), NHS, National English Honors Society, and many, many clubs. The teachers are all fine-tuned to help you with your high school experience. The only issues I have with the school is the lack of care regarding the administration towards student=oriented issues. The food isn't great but it's standard CPS food. Also, the culture isn't all that great. It's a very "clicky" school and you're either in a click or not. If you're not, it's much harder to find people to hang out with, in my opinion.... Read 739 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,915

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  634 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 634 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,650

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Deerfield, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  51 reviews

Niche User: Amazing school! Both of my siblings attended this high school and received great well rounded educations. There is a strong sense of community! Leadership is encouraged throughout many school aspects, which helps students build their resumes early and be prepared for college!... Read 51 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 185

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.66 out of 5  56 reviews

Parent: Our two children have attended BISC since nursery and they are now in 7th and 5th. Our children have developed a true love of learning and they love going to school. The teachers are so impressive—they work hard to understand their students keep them engaged. The curriculum is so well thought out and prepares students for higher learning and beyond, from an academic and life perspective. They emphasize values from a young age and encourage leadership. All of this and they worked unbelievably hard to ensure they continued delivering high quality learning during the pandemic. So so impressive!... Read 56 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 651

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• 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 —

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  1,133 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 1,133 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,403

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  64 reviews

Parent: As a former black student at Parker, I’ll try an give as unbiased a review as possible. My experience was from 7th grade until sophomore year between the years of 2002-2006. I was fortunate enough to have had the experience of going to a public, private, military, and reform school, so I believe I can say with some accuracy, which school gave me the best education, best connections, and best overall experience, and that was Parker. The access, the small class sizes, the teachers, and the curriculum are all stellar. You essentially get what you pay for as most students who graduate are well rounded, well adjusted, and are given the tools to think critically and contextualize most, if not all situations. With that being said, Parker has always had, and will probably always have an issue garnering more POC and black students into its community. This has mainly to do with the cost of tuition. Ultimately, even with this being the case, Parker is worth it and will give your child a leg up.... Read 64 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 935

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Glenbrook High Schools District 225, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  539 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 539 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,139

• Student-teacher ratio —

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  493 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 493 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,872

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Township High School District No. 113, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  313 reviews

Senior: One of my greatest high school experiences was being a member of the varsity basketball team. From the start, I was impressed by the level of talent and dedication of my teammates. We all shared a passion for basketball and a desire to succeed, and we worked hard to improve our skills and prepare for games. Our coaches were also a vital part of our team, pushing us to be our best and encouraging us never to give up. As the season progressed, we faced a variety of challenges, from tough opponents to injuries and setbacks. But through it all, we remained united and supported each other. Whether we were winning or losing, we always gave our all and tried our hardest. Overall, being a varsity basketball team member was a truly rewarding and memorable experience. It allowed me to make lasting friendships, push myself to be my best, and represent my school with pride. I will always look back on winning Conference but will never forget my time on the team with great fondness and gratitude.... Read 313 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,555

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  3,180 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 3,180 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,369

• 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 —

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  383 reviews

Senior: Diversity has definitely improved since my freshmen year. The school has become more inclusive towards minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. Academics are tough. How hard your class is doesn’t depend on the level of class you take (Honors, AP) but the teacher you have. Some teachers give loads of homework and tests, and some don’t give any homework. Be prepared for a lot of homework. Ignatius prepares you well for college. Teachers are a hit or miss. There are amazing teachers but also some horrible ones. I have never had a good math teacher. Food is way too expensive and unhealthy but it tastes great most of the time. Ignatius needs to build more bathrooms and expand the cafeteria because they accepted way too many students. Overall, Ignatius has many ways it can improve on, but It has given me so many resources and opportunities to become a better student and person. I wouldn’t have chosen any other school!... Read 383 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,512

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1