2024 High Schools with the Best Teachers in Cook County

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

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  597 reviews

Parent: I cannot say enough about the opportunities New Trier provides for ALL students. My two sons (one a graduate, another a current student) have very different interests, needs, and learning styles. They both thrived at New Trier. The teachers are unbelievable, and the academic environment is top-notch. There is a club for everyone, a sport for everyone, an elective for everyone. STEM classes and an engineering track? Check. A small school-within-a-school for students interested in experiential learning and community-based activism? Check. Multiple levels of sports plus a huge intramural program? Check. Even though the school is large, it really does a great job of supporting every student. My college student is so well-prepared, and my current student is on his way!... Read 597 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,995

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  622 reviews

Alum: Northside College Prep High School, a crucible of leadership and challenge, stands out for its unique blend of empowerment and rigorous academics. The administrators shine in fostering a safe space where students take charge, leading significant events. This emphasis on student agency cultivates leadership skills, creating a vibrant sense of community. However, the demanding academic environment is a double-edged sword. Teachers set high expectations, pushing students to their limits, mirroring the challenges posed by college professors. While it prepares for higher education, the intense pressure can be overwhelming. If there's one change I'd propose, it's a greater focus on students' mental health. In such a competitive and rigorous setting, prioritizing well-being is crucial for a balanced and fulfilling educational experience... Read 622 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,027

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  428 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 428 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,167

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Glenbrook High School District 225, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  464 reviews

Junior: As a current junior, There is no doubt that I am beyond privileged to go to a high school as great as Glenbrook North. The school does the absolute most to ensure that their students are well prepared for college. More specifically, Glenbrook North gives students the opportunity to advocate for themselves through ways including spaces for students to seek advice. These spaces primarily consist of the Math, English, Science, and College resource centers. If a student needs extra help, these centers—often ran by dedicated and qualified students and teachers—not only answer questions, but provide students with advice on how to approach their issue. In addition, the environment of Glenbrook North itself is remarkable. As a student, I can report that I feel safe walking into school because I know that I will also be able to walk out at the end of the day. I just wish the school would allow for more opportunities, like clubs, that target underrepresented students to promote more diversity.... Read 464 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,052

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Lemont, IL•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  343 reviews

Junior: I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Lemont, and am largely looking forward to my senior year! The faculty is outstanding and super involved. Some of my favorite experiences include watching the girls softball team battle it out and claim another state title, cheering on our treasured football team from the lively student section, and participating in our dynamic homecoming spirit week! I think I am interested to see the big changes they are implementing next year, including a mandatory mental health class once a week on Wednesdays. Although it is unfortunate that this will keep us at school at half hour later, I think our school and community will benefit immensely from contriving this program. Lemont High School has begun to pave a road that will guarantee my long-term success and satisfaction, and I only hope to further trek down this arduous path throughout college and beyond!... Read 343 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,370

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Township High School District No. 214, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  364 reviews

Junior: I really enjoy the fact that students, peers, friends, and teachers always go out of their way to help others. Their kindness allows me to become a better person and student. Whenever I need help with class work, I feel comfortable meeting with my teachers because I know that they have the proper resources/training to assist me with my work. However, we don’t really touch base on preparations for SAT and ACT in class. I would like to see more assignments that allow me to get a better hold on preparation for these standardized tests. With the current amount of students in this school, I feel as if our school needs to expand in some way to supply all these students. There are crowded hallways, and I could never really move freely around in the school. But, I’ve had mostly great experiences with the school.... Read 364 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,049

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  766 reviews

Senior: The experience I have had at Jones College Prep has been decent! It is definitely a very academically focused school, and that is a good thing because it motivates students to do well, but it is sometimes not a good thing, because it can get in the way of things that are more important, like connections with other people, family, and just having a life, as one should, outside of school. I will always be grateful for the friends that I made, and the impact they had on my life during my high school years. The changes I want to see is not specific to the school. They are aimed towards the entire school system. I feel as though students mental health and lives outside of school are not valued enough. School starts early in the morning, then students have extra curricular's, and piled on top of that they also have homework, all while trying to have a proper sleep schedule and keeping up relationships with people. A later start and limited homework would extremely benefit students.... Read 766 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,909

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Glenbrook High School District 225, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  555 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 555 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 3,080

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Township High School District No. 214, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  543 reviews

Senior: Prospect high school has really turned a new leaf in terms of the teachers being hired. When I was a freshman, most of my teachers were older and unkind. As I have grown up, Prospect has hired such wonderful young teachers that I love! I really commend their efforts to make this school more inclusive and understanding.... Read 543 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,248

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Township High School District No. 214, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  514 reviews

Senior: Buffalo Grove high school has a stellar reputation and the school district is highly desired by home buyers with children. I’ve been thrilled with the opportunities that the school has given me including both class options and extracurricular activities. I’ve been able to take AP level classes in History which is my passion along with college level classes my senior year that will reward me with full college credit. The teachers have been wonderful and really enjoy teaching and care about their students. I also feel very safe as there is a no bully policy implemented in the school and they take the policy very seriously. As far as extracurriculars, the organizations/clubs are abundant and provide everyone an opportunity to feel included. I have participated in the a cappella program along with Model UN and the international relations club. With the numerous opportunities my high school has offered, I feel so thankful for the experiences I had.... Read 514 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,971

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Maine Township High School District No. 207, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  403 reviews

Senior: Great School. Teachers are very involved, and the facilities are new and compliment learning well. The afterschool athletic programs are poor, but the academics make up for it! The administration and other staff (who are not teachers) are connected with the students and make the environment that much easier and relaxing.... Read 403 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,876

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  562 reviews

Alum: Conant is an amazing school. I was not in any sports or clubs but they have so many activities and if they don’t have something you’re interested in they will help you start a club! There were a few old school teachers left when I was there (2019) but they probably retired now. I will say those teachers were kind of mean and cranky but for the most part I loved all of my teachers! I liks how many AP classes this district offers. They will definitely help you get ready for college! I’m a Hispanic student and they did not make me feel like I was any less. My counselor was always on top of it when I had college questions or concerns. They do very well with teaching about diversity and equality but it’s kind of hard for certain students to adapt to that or understand it because Conant is not diverse. That’s not entirely the schools fault either, it’s just because of the area we live in and the way these kids are raised at home.... Read 562 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,468

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  1,179 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 1,179 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,051

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  654 reviews

Senior: Fremd is overall a great school with amazing faculty and great courses offered. We have a variety of clubs and student led associations that are really fun to be a part of. As a public school, our class sizes are larger, but teachers focus on every student in the class. The one shortcoming at the school is the number of teachers in certain areas. If a student wants to start a club, most teachers are too busy to sponsor the student's ideas. Other than that, the school is highly ranked and the atmosphere is amazing!... Read 654 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,698

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  3,230 reviews

Senior: Easy to be a stranger here, but it's wonderful when you choose not to be one. Room numbering system is odd, but you'll get it in a few weeks. Most students will be happy to assist you w finding classes. Security guards are nice, but wear your ID or hold onto it. The boys bathrooms are in poor condition, and one of the rooms' stalls do not have locks or close properly, and the sink water vacillates between boiling hot and cold. Sometimes there's graffiti in the stalls and garbage on the lawn. I wish other students would pick up their trash because it is messing with the geese and looks bad, and I wish that the front lawn could be terraformed so that it's more flat. There's lots of nice teachers, and the great ones make this school worth it. Lane does a good job in offering specialized programs. I wish there were more counselors at Lane because the school's so big it's sometimes hard to get to know people or get the help you need! LSC cares. A cleanable, solid brick in Roscoe Village.... Read 3,230 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 4,330

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Niles Township Community High School District No. 219, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  511 reviews

Alum: Niles North High School is an excellent school that offers a variety of classes, clubs, academic opportunities, and financial assistance. I personally have taken a couple of their extracurricular classes and clubs and had the best experience. I appreciated their teaching style, which was easy to understand, and the projects that were given were challenging but enjoyable. Niles North has a variety of lunch options, an academic help center, great teachers, and is clean. I didn't necessarily have a bad experience, but there is always room for improvement. I would like to see the school improve parent-teacher communication. I believe this is very important for the growth of students, and it helps parents become more involved in their child's life. I honestly wish that I had taken advantage of everything that the school offered, and I hope that current students become more involved with their school.... Read 511 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,062

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Niles Township Community High School District No. 219, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  523 reviews

Senior: I love the community Niles West has! I have been involved in academics and extracurricular activities throughout my four years at Niles West. I am a National Honor Society member, a Literacy Center tutor, a Marching Band Woodwind Section Leader, a Korean Club President and choreographer, and a Chinese Club Co-Leader and choreographer. In previous years, I was an Asian Pop Culture Club member and choreographer as well as a Ping-Pong Club member. Because of clubs at West, I have learned how to work in groups and expand my social skills. This helped me to make numerous, lasting friends. I is proud to have attended Niles West High School; it helped expand my interests, such as engineering and band, and inspired me to become a well-rounded person who is better prepared for college.... Read 523 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,557

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  469 reviews

Alum: My high school experience was great. It was definitely different throughout the pandemic, but I thought that they managed the whole thing very efficiently and thought they were organized, or at least tried to be organized in the matter of scheduling class and breaks in between. When talking about high school experience in person I would say that it is definitely very diverse and you can talk to people really easily and are always encouraged to join new sport or activities. You can always reach out to teachers for extra help and they will be willing to help you out and want to see you succeed. Staff for the most part is friendly as well!... Read 469 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,013

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Maine Township High School District No. 207, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  529 reviews

Alum: Teachers are hit or miss, though they're all highly qualified. The school in general is very lax on enforcing rules, and very uninterested in actually helping students succeed through personal issues. This may be because the school's demographics are primarily white upper middle class suburbanites that have grown up there their entire lives. This is not to say that the environment is unfriendly -- the majority of people I met here were very nice. Some of the best class selections I've seen out of any high school, but competitiveness is high and taking a multitude of electives isn't always encouraged, especially since it impacts your GPA. Lots of college prep towards the end, but most students had already finished their applications by the time it came up, and college counselors were not helpful. Best part is that many teachers will actively seek out gifted students for opportunities, and it's definitely a boost for later in life.... Read 529 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 2,454

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• La Grange, IL•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  769 reviews

Senior: The school has amazing academic and social opportunities! As a senior, I can say the majority of my teachers were very involved in my learning and personally cared about me and my peers. Outside of academics, LT has over 100 clubs for students to join and participate in. The class size of the school at almost four thousand can be daunting at first but with time it's refreshing to have all the different types of people you get to talk to that comes with such a large high school. Lastly, it's important to note that there are two campuses, the south campus has a maturity issue since it's made up of freshmen and sophomores. North Campus is made up of juniors and seniors so the maturity is much better and the overall energy is better.... Read 769 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 3,967

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Township High School District No. 214, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  479 reviews

Senior: The staff and teachers are kind and want she best for you and will do their best to help support you to achieve your goals! Extra curricular’s kind of depend, is it well funded? Are there a lot of students or very little? How is the club community? Etc. I do theater and I love it a lot! I love the people, our show’s honestly just get better and better, I love the community we have build together. Outside of staff, extra curricular’s though, the students, they can be a hard 50/50. Depends on what crowd you start talking and hanging out with. Just make sure to lookout for yourself and whats best for you!... Read 479 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,064

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Township High School District No. 214, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  344 reviews

Senior: Wheeling High School has an incredible sense of community. This strong atmosphere of being a community generates a lot of school spirit and a welcoming atmosphere for students and staff. Wheeling High School offers the literacy lab, a tutoring center, where students and teachers help other students at any time during the day in any subject. The school is a “microcosm of life” with so much diversity and acceptance of one another. Wheeling High School offers a variety of career pathways to help specialize students’ interests. Some career pathways offered include business, law, medical, and engineering. Also, Wheeling offers an “AVID” which helps students with post-secondary opportunities! Overall, Wheeling High School is a very good school with a strong sense of community and school culture!... Read 344 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,741

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  12 reviews

Junior: My experience in this school has been overall very great. The school is very close to where I live so it’s convenient for me to get to and from school. I really appreciate how most teachers try to help and engage their students, there are a lot of great teachers here. I don’t have any major issues with the school. The only problem is that we share a building with the elementary school, but that isn’t much of an issue for me.... Read 12 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A

• Students 642

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Township High School District No. 211, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  517 reviews

Junior: Schaumburg High school is pretty good and overall a great experience. There's no real downsides, I've just noticed our test scores for SAT are on the lower side, compared to other districts. I enjoy being in the SHS band family. It's an amazing place that's loads of fun and excitement. One of the downsides is some of the students behavior. But I mean it could be worse. I enjoy the overall teachers and curriculum as everyone is pretty positive and make the day easier. Most classes are good, they all work. Sometimes schedules are a little messed up. One of my worst experiences with scheduling is when my math class and band class had overlapped and I was forced to down grade, my band. The counselors had helped me switch classes and made the experience better but still. Additionally the counselors can push us to take unnecessary classes which we don't need for our majors in college. Which leads us to stress and cause unnecessary problems for us. overall I think that this school is great!... Read 517 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,262

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Evanston Township High School District No. 202, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  715 reviews

Parent: I have two children with very different strengths, needs, and interests who’ve attended ETHS all four years. It frequently feels like they attend two completely different schools under the same roof. This speaks to the administration’s efforts to provide as individual an experience as possible for a student population of nearly 4,000. In our experience, although the school is diverse and pays a lot of lip service toward equity initiatives, there are still very few students of colour in AP classes. Kids with demonstrated needs but no behavioral issues also tend to be overlooked. Many (if not most) of the teachers and staff are dedicated, approachable, and willing to provide support outside of class, but there are some who remain rigid and insensitive to learning differences. The resources the students have access to are remarkable, but certain sports teams are definitely prioritized. No school is perfect, but ETHS has provided a mostly positive experience academically and socially.... Read 715 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 3,727

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1