Illinois Schools Rank Among the Best in New Report's 2024 High School Rankings

Several Illinois schools have secured top spots in the recently released "2024 Best High School Rankings" by U.S. News and World Report. The comprehensive list evaluated over 24,000 public high schools across all 50 states, taking into consideration factors such as college readiness, state assessments, graduation rate, college curriculum breadth, and underserved student performance.

The report categorized schools based on these criteria, resulting in a ranking of over 17,660 public high schools nationwide. Notably, the top 20 schools on the list require selective enrollment or have minimum GPA requirements, highlighting their rigorous academic standards.

Leading the nationwide rankings was BASIS Charter Schools in Peoria, Arizona, which claimed the coveted No. 1 spot. Signature School in Evansville, Indiana, secured the second position. Illinois saw five schools from Chicago make it into the list's top 100 schools across the country.

Walter Payton College Preparatory High School claimed the No. 5 spot on the national list, closely followed by Northside College Preparatory High School at No. 35. Young Magnet High School ranked at No. 52, while Jones College Prep High School and Lane Technical High School secured the No. 53 and No. 60 spots, respectively.

While suburban schools in Illinois didn't rank as high on the national list, they did dominate the state-level rankings. Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, and Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale were among the top schools in the state.

The report highlighted that 11.5% of the ranked public high schools were charter schools, while 4.4% were magnet schools. It also showcased Florida and Arizona as leading the rankings, with 12 high schools each in the top 100. California closely followed, with 11 schools making the prestigious list.

This comprehensive report provides a valuable assessment of the best high schools in the country, offering insights into their academic performance and readiness to prepare students for college education. Parents and students can access the full report to learn more about the rankings and find the best educational options for their future endeavors.