Best Public Schools in Chicago, IL

The city of Chicago, Illinois is home to a diverse array of 631 schools, including 465 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 149 high schools, and 6 alternative schools. These schools serve students across the city and provide a range of educational opportunities. While the majority of schools in the data set have similar graduation rates and dropout rates, there are several standout schools that demonstrate exceptional performance across key metrics.

At the top of the list are Young Magnet High School, Payton College Preparatory High School, and Northside College Preparatory High School, all of which are ranked among the top 5 high schools in Illinois and have exceptional test scores, graduation rates, and other performance metrics. In contrast, some schools like Hyde Park Academy High School and Bogan High School struggle across multiple measures.

The data also reveals significant variation in student-teacher ratios, with some schools like Disney II Magnet High School having very low ratios and others like Ogden Elementary School having extremely high ratios. Additionally, there appears to be a correlation between socioeconomic factors, as measured by free/reduced lunch rates, and school performance, with the highest-performing schools generally having lower rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Overall, the data provides a comprehensive snapshot of the educational landscape in Chicago Public Schools District 299, highlighting both the strengths and challenges faced by schools in the city.