Explore the best schools in your area based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.
Alum: Our 3 kids attended Nysmith from pre-K to 8th grade and it was the best decision of our lives! They never wanted to miss a day of school, because Nysmith knows how to make learning fun. Our kids went on to a great high school (TJ), that was perfect for their math/science/technology interests, and attended their #1 college choices. They were not only ready academically after Nysmith, but they were also happy and confident. The teachers, who are experts and passionate about the subjects they teach, treated the kids with kindness and respect, welcomed their questions, nurtured their curiosity, and helped my kids discover their gifts and abilities - sometimes before they even knew what they were. I highly recommend Nysmith. Or, better yet, don't listen to me...look at their website, see how their alums are doing, schedule a tour and a couple of student visit days for your child. See for yourselves what Nysmith is all about!Read 4 Reviews
Senior: Overall, Walter Payton College Prep is a high school with high academic motivation with both counselors and teachers that take great care to ensure that every student is prepared for their college careers. The ample amount of security and the fact that teachers are trained to respond to certain medical issues such as Diabetes and asthma attacks provide more evidence that students can feel safe and protected while at school. Payton is also ethnically diverse and classes include intense literary discussions, modern as well as interesting experiments in science, and complex mathematical classes that guarantee no student is left behind. Walter Payton College Prep truly defines an ideal College preparatory high school. Possible criticism would include the fact that the school holds only your average diversity of sports, there is sometimes a lack of both sanitation and paper towels in the washrooms, and the school pep rallies are a bit lacking.Read 304 Reviews
Alum: Amazing and rigorous academics with dedicated teachers and extensive student body diversity. Going to ncp can be very stressful and competitive, but the experience has prepared me very well, and my counselour helped me plan out all sorts of backup plans senior year along with easing the application process. There is a safe space for anyone regardless of your interests, so many extracurricular activities! I feel very blessed and prepared. The rest of the world is certainly not as diverse as this school was, but it was great exposure as a young adult.Read 491 Reviews
Alum: Overall a well rounded high school! The faculty is a big part of why this school is so great. They're incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about what they're teaching and it really shines through. The student population is very engaged and it is the norm for students to partake in multiple extracurricular activities alongside their studies. The school has so many option when it comes to getting involved whether it be through clubs, socities, or sports. There really is a niche for everyone.Read 998 Reviews
Alum: IMSA is a boarding school so there are many responsibilities students take on along with academics. The challenge of the school was definitely a combination of both living and curriculum although the advanced curriculum was the greater of the two. Countering these challenges, the school offers on site tutoring, many places to study quietly, a writing center, and interactive preparation for college. These resources help students academically while its many clubs and on campus activities create a memorable and positive living environment. The campus is very serene and wide and the tight-knit community is accepting of students of all backgrounds and experiences.Read 222 Reviews
Sophomore: I am a sophomore who has been attending Whitney Young for 4 years now and I truly believe it is the best school in the city of Chicago. It offers a wide range of challenging courses for students with all different types of interests. The principal Dr. Joyce Kenner strives to give all students the best high school experience possible and definitely succeeds. The diverse environment is very welcoming and fun. The students are very involved in the school community while managing to focus on academics and sports/extra-curricular activities (with the help of our fellow teachers). Speaking of sports, we have had 12 city championships in the past 2 years, and 9 in 2014! The school could use a few upgrades, but that's really up to the city (and we already get a ton of funding since we're a selective enrollment school). Overall, Whitney Young is a great high school and I encourage all prospective high school students in Chicago to apply.Read 912 Reviews
Parent: There is no place like LFA to prepare your son or daughter for college and life. The enviornment, physical facilities and honor code has proven itself with my two children (and all of their friends) who have received and achieved all that they wished for in the college application process. They are prepared for higher education and life - thanks to LFA. Visit this campus if you are serious about the benefits of preparatory school.Read 37 Reviews
Parent: Can't say enough about the academics and the preparation for college. So many organizations, clubs to join! There is something for everyone! What a great opportunity for students to study with those from another country. The international boarding program provides a safe environment for students on campus as well as great curriculum and how wonderful to have this interaction with the student population. The spirit of St. Bede touches everyone, everyday!Read 38 Reviews
Parent: The school's history and track record for preparing kids for the very best universities is well documented and continues through today. Being attached to the U. Of Chicago is a great asset to the school. The rigor is quite high for academics generally and faculty are quite established / successfully over a long period. Teachers are quite open to meet with parents and often do in planned events and at request of parents. It is a grind for the kids here. It is quite a challenge for most...we see a lot of growth from our student.Campus is classic and wonderful. New facility additions are done well, and great new spaces for arts and community.Security is present, and the school is good about enforcing procedures.Read 102 Reviews
Sophomore: As a new student as a freshman, I was welcomed very warmly in the community. The staff is amazing and will help you through any problem you have, whether it's in or out of school, and the same applies with students. Diversity lacks in a 70%-ish white school, but what I like the most about this school is that they don't care about your race, ethnicity, religious background, etc. They see you as a fellow student of the Latin School of Chicago.Read 92 Reviews
Parent: The school provides a rigorous, well-rounded education. Class sizes are small in the elementary school years so children receive a lot of individualized attention. The science and arts program are quite strong. The only areas of improvement are diversity (less diverse than private schools in Chicago due to location) and breadth of extracurriculars. Read 47 Reviews
Senior: I have had an awesome experience at Francis W Parker. Teachers at Parker are creative (and free to make their own curricula because of Parker's progressive philosophy) and teach students mind-blowing ideas, along with critical thinking skills. However, the unavoidable smallness of each class makes some students too comfortable with one another - everyone knows everything about everyone. Additionally, many reputations stick from middle school.Yet the education, especially in history and English classes, is great. Parker has, however, been trying to improve their STEM classes - they finally introduced higher-level math courses into middle school curricula, and now high schoolers must take computer programming/coding for at least one year. Recently, because the administration in the high school has been changing for around 5 years now, some students feel that they have less influence in school processes than they used to.Overall, though, definitely come to Parker!Read 41 Reviews
Senior: I am involved in the IGSS program, which is a newer program. Basically it is a school within a school. It encompasses English, Environmental Science, and History. The method of teaching is very organic. You are taught to think for yourself - there is no wrong answer! The teachers encourage creativity, thinking outside the box, and collaborative learning.Read 451 Reviews
Sophomore: Hinsdale Central High School is a great school! While the academics are demanding, the teachers are amazing and are always willing to work before/after school with students who need help. While the school does have a "white preppy" vibe, it is a great mix of people who are interested in almost anything you can think of. Finding at least one person who has similar interests is not difficult and finding friends among this friendly group of people. The amount of honors and AP classes is amazing, along with the huge assortment of clubs. Overall, the school is a great place for every type of student!Read 294 Reviews
Senior: Glenbrook south high school is a public school with heaps of good opportunity. The friends and relationships I've made will never be forgotten and the people are actually really nice, there are barely any conceited/rude ones at all!! Also, the subjects you can do, you would be surprised the range there is to choose from, there is something for everyone!! And the camps, excursions, special events and other opportunities such as exchanges with schools from other states or countries is the best. Sport is also one of the best parts of high school too, but even if you are not into it, music and art programs are generally really good. High school are some of the best years of your life, so don't waste it. would like glenbrook south to focus more on bringing more fun activities in the classrooms. Afterall "all work and no play makes jack a dull boy".Read 423 Reviews
Alum: Jones College Prep is a very diverse college preparatory school. Students are selected from all over Chicago, and it is evident in the population. Teachers strive to help students succeed both inside the class and outside, and there is ample time provided for extra help. Because the school is college preparatory, the counselors really focus on early applications to colleges and for scholarships. The academics are very understandable and provide a good platform for upward mobility in terms of class selection. One downside is that the school consists of two unconnected building that are 6+ floors high, so a lot of climbing is required!Read 553 Reviews
Parent: Woodlands is deeply committed to the young ladies and families it serves offering very strong academics, opportunities for both personal and spiritual development, and excellent college counseling! The staff are amazing, too. We loved the former principal, Mrs. Edmunds, and also equally love the current principal, Christine Schmidt (who is doing a fantastic job)! Everyone here -- including a knowledgeable registrar -- is doing an outstanding job educating these spirited, very smart, caring young women. My only complaint would be the choices made by the board of trustees. I hope people know that the trustees don't speak for all parents. I still disagree with their decision to let valuable staff go in order to save funds & I also think they would benefit from new, fresher perspectives/members. No place is ever perfect, of course, but this private all-girl's Catholic high school on the northshore comes pretty darn close! A++Read 41 Reviews
Senior: This school is a school like no other. What i truly love about Lane is that it provides its students with a true high school experience. And no, not that cool kids vs lame kids experience. It helps you in creating friendships with people from different backgrounds and values. Our ethnicities are celebrated during International days, which is a week in which ethnic cubs perform their ethnic dances. The teachers truly care for their students and their education. There are hundreds of clubs and activities and if you don't find one right for you, then you can make one! It is very easy to find a place to fit in and people are open minded and truly friendly. We get to have open campus lunch and go wherever we want to eat. Parents and teachers are highly invested in supporting students and helping them achieve their goals. We have the best sports team, which is why we call ourselves the School of Champions. I am so lucky to say I attend Lane Tech High school. Go Indians!Read 2,574 Reviews
Alum: I graduated from RZJHS 4 years ago, and it truly was an incredible high-school experience that prepared me well for college as well as entering the professional world. The school has a rigorous dual-degree program with top-notch liberal arts courses, sciences, mathematics, as well as intense Judaics courses. The students who graduate from RZJHS go on to the best universities in the country (Yale, Princeton, Penn, Northwestern, UChicago) and excel there as well. The alumni community is extremely close-knit and the community is really a family from incoming middle-schoolers, to parents, staff, and alumni. If you have the opportunity to attend, I cannot recommend it enough!Read 37 Reviews
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 385 Reviews
Senior: I could not possibly feel more blessed to have attended Glenbrook North for 3 (going on 4) years. Glenbrook North is immersed in an inclusive, loving, and thriving community. Within the walls of Glenbrook North lies at atmosphere that can not be found anywhere else. Each day I wake up excited, knowing that I will be spending my day with friends, teachers who care about me, and enthusiastic peers. Each year at GBN I have connected with new peers, whether my age, older, or younger, each student at GBN is special and unique. I build my relationships through class work, projects, electives, or even gym classes. GBN cares about their students' health. I take gym each semester for ninety minutes every other day, as well as fitness tests four times each semester. The faculty truly care about their students achieving their highest potential in their best health. I wish that every student could have a high school experience like the one provided by GBN, and I am tremendously blessed!Read 368 Reviews
Parent: We are a new family at Vernon Hills High School. I am greatly impressed by the excellent education my kids are receiving at Vernon Hills High School. I am extremely happy with what my son is learning in Math and Science. What my daughter learned in her Health class is amazingly helpful. Also, she has a wonderful Spanish teacher. Her math teacher not only teaches students about math but also how to conduct themselves properly in speech. She likes all her teachers at VHHS. People are friendly and helpful. Keep up your good work, Cougars!Read 275 Reviews
Alum: Uni High was a unique experience in every sense of the word. The first thing someone entering the building would pick up on would be disorder. The lockers are all strewn wide open, the walls are covered in thousands of handprints from a hundred years of alumni, the din of whooping students scattered and clumped throughout the hallways. It’s a different experience for sure, and as a whole I would say I really appreciated my time there. At the same time, it’s far from perfect. The teachers are amazing at what they do, instilling a deeper understanding and sharing their passion with students. The students are also a great mix of bright and talented people, each with their own skills. However, the way classes are taught don’t prepare students for AP exams, and being surrounded by bright talented students can be demoralizing sometimes. At the same time, Uni always challenged me to be better, and I have no regrets about spending my high school years there!Read 145 Reviews
Senior: Overall my whole high school experience with Central, things went by very quick. I made a lot of friends and met a lot of great people, including teachers. The academics were very challenging at times but being at central has gotten me very well prepared for the future. My college path and my future career path. You have many opportunities at central. One thing I would love to see change is the diversity. I’m a Black girl among 50 other black students or less. Out of the 3,000 students that go to the school are majority white. It wasn’t a bad thing but feeling left out was a major thing for many students of the Black american decent. Other than the changes. Parents are really involved and sports and other activities welcome everyone. The school as a whole has earned 5 stars in my book. GO RED HAWKS!Read 458 Reviews
Senior: I enjoyed Prospect! I was respected by all of my teachers, given a slew of extracurricular activities to participate in, and the grading system and syllabus was simple. All of my accomodations were met and fulfilled thanks to my I.E.P, which was set up, thankfully, by my case manager. At PHS, I was able to take the electives I wanted to take, like Creative Writing and Sports & Entertainment Marketing. As for extracurriculars, I had the opportunity to lead my schools Video Game Club and participate on our state-championship winning Speech Team. Whether it be the fact that I met many new friends here, or having great educational opportunities like getting to teacher assist in one of my school's special education classes, I truly have nothing bad to say about Prospect High School. Read 380 Reviews
Parent: St. Ignatius is an amazing place - they take their mission of creating "men and women for others" very seriously. The teachers are top-notch and the academics are extremely challenging. The environment is supportive and collaborative. If you are considering Ignatius, visit. Meet the wonderful students and staff for yourself. Best private high school in the city!Read 297 Reviews
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 899 Reviews