2020 Middle Schools with the Best Teachers in Cook CountyAbout this List

Fairview South Elementary School

• Public School
• Skokie, IL
• PK, K-8

• A+

• A+

• 707 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sunset Ridge Elementary School

• Sunset Ridge School District No. 29, IL
• 4-8
• 2 reviews

High School Junior: The teachers were superb and had the resources to create a great experience. The Gifted/Enrichment program was unbelievably wonderful with passionate teachers who had the highest level degrees and published authors on the subject. The Special Education program gave one-on-one attention to the students who needed help.
Read 2 Reviews

• A

• A+

• 259 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Wood Oaks Junior High School

• Northbrook Elementary School District No. 27, IL
• 6-8

• A

• A+

• 416 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Golf Middle School

• Golf Elementary School District No. 67, IL
• 5-8
• 5 reviews

• A

• A+

• 282 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Central School

• Glencoe School District No. 35, IL
• 5-8

• A

• A+

• 559 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Carleton W. Washburne School

• Winnetka School District No. 36, IL
• 7-8
• 5 reviews

Middle School Student: I wish there was a little more diversity but other then that it’s amazing. I enjoy all of my classes and the teachers are very fun, it’s a very good environment to be apart of. The school sports are very fun along with after school clubs.
Read 5 Reviews

• A

• A+

• 448 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Skokie School

• Winnetka School District No. 36, IL
• 5-6

• A

• A+

• 395 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Park Junior High School

• LaGrange School District No. 102, IL
• 7-8
• 3 reviews

Sophomore: I really liked my time at PJHS. I thought they did a great job preparing me for high school, and I had a very easy time transitioning to my high school because of Park. I had a lot of great friends and overall did enjoy it. I will say that my only downside with Park is that there are not that many clubs, and they should maybe add some more, however most don’t really have a problem with meeting new people, but I would still strongly suggest to join a club. I also noticed a lot of the teachers were very kind and helpful, however there are some that are definitely burnt out and don’t care about your grades. A good handful of the teachers were pretty strict and not as fun as most, and I think they need to remember that it is a very difficult and awkward age for the kids to go through. But overall, I learned a lot and enjoyed my student life there as well!
Read 3 Reviews

• A

• A+

• 707 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Marie Murphy School

• Avoca School District No. 37, IL
• PK, 6-8
• 8 reviews

Middle School Student: The teachers are great. They push you to do your best, and have very reasonable boundaries that have repercussions if you make them cross that line.
The students are very diverse, and the students work really well together, no matter who it is.
The teachers prepare you a lot for high school, even exceeding the expeditions for what the students need to know in order to get a passing grade. Especially the science they teach. They prepare you for everything that comes your way at high school, New Trier especially.
Except they pile on homework and projects pretty excessively. Although it has been pretty manageable so far, it’s definitely going to get more difficult as the year goes on.
Overall, a very good school that i wouldn’t want to transfer out of. It’s my last year at Marie Murphy, and I have to say that I will miss the staff and comfort at Marie Murphy.
-A.M., Eighth Grader at Marie Murphy
Read 8 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 286 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jane Addams Junior High School

• Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District No. 54, IL
• 7-8
• 2 reviews

Parent: Great School, teachers really care. Each school in District 54 has their own Nurse! They are there every day, all day. They give excellent care to students with medical needs, every day. New secretaries in the office are very helpful.
Read 2 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 710 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Joseph Sears School

• Public School
• Kenilworth, IL
• K-8

• A+

• A+

• 472 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lincoln Prairie School

• Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District No. 54, IL
• K-8

• A+

• A+

• 389 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Pleasantdale Middle School

• Pleasantdale School District No. 107, IL
• 5-8

• A

• A+

• 385 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Norwood Park Elementary School

• Chicago Public Schools, IL
• PK, K-8
• 1 review

• A-

• A+

• 409 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Hawthorne Scholastic Academy

• Chicago Public Schools, IL
• K-8
• 1 review

Niche User: Hawthorne is the best school I love it. Nice Teachers great Resourcer Aids and more! This school is like the 5th best school. The lunch is awesome, and the park is awesome. if I were you, I would go to this school. And friends at Hawthorne are the best.


- Aminata Kamara, A 4th grade student at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy
Read 1 Review

• A-

• A+

• 575 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Margaret Mead Junior High School

• Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District No. 54, IL
• 7-8

• A+

• A+

• 578 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Independence Junior High School

• Palos Heights School District No. 128, IL
• 6-8
• 1 review

• A

• A+

• 229 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Maple School

• Northbrook-Glenview School District No. 30, IL
• 6-8
• 3 reviews

Middle School Student: I love this school! The teachers are AMAZING, and you feel like you really bond with them. Maple is focused on academics, and all the kids preform really well there. At Maple I feel like it’s my home away from home. Kids here do stress out over grades, but they always have people to help them with it.
Read 3 Reviews

• A

• A+

• 392 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Plum Grove Junior High School

• Palatine Community Consolidated School District No. 15, IL
• 7-8
• 3 reviews

Middle School Student: I like plum grove because, your friends always stick with you, and a lot of the teachers are funny and friendly. However, I wish that some people should not be rude
Read 3 Reviews

• A-

• A+

• 806 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Park View Elementary School

• Public School
• Morton Grove, IL
• PK, K-8

• A

• A+

• 900 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

East Prairie Elementary School

• Public School
• Skokie, IL
• PK, K-8

• A

• A+

• 503 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alcott Elementary School

• Chicago Public Schools, IL
• PK, K-8
• 2 reviews

Middle School Student: I really love Alcott. As a current 8th grader, I know that a lot of us get into selective enrollment high schools. However, there is no pressure for the kids who don’t. Many kids go to Lincoln Park high school. The process of getting in is super stressful, though. School lunch is okay. We have a ton of resources. There are around 10 chrome book carts that are in good shape. Most teachers are great, but there are a few bad eggs. Currently, our hardworking Chinese teacher is in China for the year. The chinese is a joke without him.
This is definitely a school in a bubble. There aren’t many kids who do drugs or bully others. Ive been here since preschool and I’ll really miss it. I’ve made great friends and would totally recommend it.
Read 2 Reviews

• A-

• A+

• 635 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Burley School

• Chicago Public Schools, IL
• PK, K-8
• 4 reviews

Niche User: I loved Burley. It is small enough that you can build meaningful relationships with your peers and teachers. Also, Burley helped to solidify my love of reading and writing.
Read 4 Reviews

• A-

• A+

• 530 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oriole Park Elementary School

• Chicago Public Schools, IL
• PK, K-8
• 2 reviews

Alum: I've been an alum for a few years now, I was a student before the expansion of the school.
The school was a nice school, very rigorous with strict ruling administration. I was not a particular fan of the new principle but he definitely brought order to the school.
Oriole Park is most definitely rigorous in it's teachings and you can definitely excel in it. From the school I was able to propel myself into one of the best schools in the city. You just have to take advantage of it.
It was not a diverse school, it was mostly polish kids but there was a few other minorities there.
I would definitely recommend it, but I would make sure the student gets involved with the outside world to. With the way the school was originally formatted it was academics, academics, academics. There was not a lot of extra-curricular activities a student could get involved with.
Read 2 Reviews

• A-

• A+

• 728 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

STEM Magnet Academy Elementary School

• Chicago Public Schools, IL
• K-8
• 1 review

• A-

• A+

• 460 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio