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Payton College Preparatory High School

Public Grades 9-12

3^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 100% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Payton College Preparatory High School is a highly-ranked public high school in Chicago, Illinois, serving 1,265 students in grades 9-12. Despite the Chicago Public Schools District 299 being ranked 698 out of 811 districts in Illinois, Payton College Preparatory High School consistently ranks among the top 5 high schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Payton College Preparatory High School is known for its exceptional academic performance, with over 90% proficiency in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science across various grade levels and assessments. The school's test scores significantly outperform the district and state averages, often by 40-50 percentage points. Additionally, Payton has a 4-year graduation rate of around 90% and a dropout rate consistently below 4%, much lower than the district and state averages.

Interestingly, Payton College Preparatory High School outperforms nearby schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299, including Noble St Charter-Golder College Prep, Wells Community Academy High School, and several other Noble Charter schools, which generally have lower academic performance, higher dropout rates, and serve a higher percentage of low-income students.

1,260

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,953

Per pupil spending ?

33.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1034 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610-2513

(773) 534-0034

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

White:

31.7%

Asian:

27.4%

Hispanic:

26.1%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Payton College Preparatory High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 100th percentile in 2015 → 100th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (94% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Illinois high schools

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Illinois average (89%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school94%

District avg37%

Illinois avg48%

3^rd of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Top 1%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 144High Schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299

698^th of 811Chicago Public Schools District 299 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.5	3 of 698	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	3 of 697	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	99.2	5 of 699	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 699	99.9%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 688	99.9%	★★★★★
2019	99.9	3 of 701	99.6%	★★★★★
2018	99.9	2 of 647	99.7%	★★★★★
2017	100.0	2 of 642	99.7%	★★★★★
2016	99.7	2 of 643	99.7%	★★★★★
2015	99.9	1 of 614	99.8%	★★★★★
2014	99.4	2 of 670	99.7%	★★★★★
2013	99.4	2 of 670	99.7%	★★★★★
2012	99.4	3 of 665	99.5%	★★★★★
2011	99.2	3 of 655	99.5%	★★★★★
2010	99.4	2 of 643	99.7%	★★★★★
2009	99.6	1 of 632	99.8%	★★★★★
2008	99.5	2 of 624	99.7%	★★★★★
2007	99.6	2 of 612	99.7%	★★★★★
2006	99.4	2 of 596	99.7%	★★★★★
2005	99.2	3 of 590	99.5%	★★★★★
2004	99.3	3 of 592	99.5%	★★★★★
2003	99.0	3 of 586	99.5%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	3 of 323	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	5 of 299	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	99.8	6 of 301	98.0%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 294	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 281	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	100.0	2 of 299	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	100.0	3 of 253	98.8%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	92.0	3 of 148	98.0%	★★★★★
2024	97.1	1 of 137	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	93.6	4 of 134	97.0%	★★★★★
2022	97.3	1 of 141	99.3%	★★★★★
2021	97.5	3 of 135	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	95.8	2 of 130	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	96.0	1 of 132	99.2%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.7	4 of 491	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	1 of 429	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.3	21 of 428	95.1%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.8	1 of 284	99.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	98.8	3 of 685	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	4 of 664	99.4%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	5 of 656	99.2%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 658	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	2 of 639	99.7%	★★★★★
2019	99.9	2 of 665	99.7%	★★★★★
2018	99.9	2 of 620	99.7%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.5	7 of 366	98.1%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	6 of 336	98.2%	★★★★★
2023	99.9	3 of 333	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 335	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	4 of 317	98.7%	★★★★★
2019	99.9	4 of 317	98.7%	★★★★★
2018	99.9	4 of 291	98.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	100.0	1 of 672	99.9%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	1 of 639	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	99.9	2 of 644	99.7%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 626	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 611	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	100.0	3 of 639	99.5%	★★★★★
2018	100.0	3 of 585	99.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.6	3 of 685	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	3 of 668	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	99.3	5 of 668	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 664	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 653	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	99.9	3 of 675	99.6%	★★★★★
2018	99.9	1 of 619	99.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	96.8	1 of 211	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	99.4	2 of 182	98.9%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	3 of 163	98.2%	★★★★★
2021	99.6	1 of 160	99.4%	★★★★★
2019	99.2	2 of 165	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	98.2	3 of 154	98.1%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	94.1	35 of 527	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	4 of 482	99.2%	★★★★★
2023	100.0	7 of 476	98.5%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 493	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 453	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	100.0	1 of 473	99.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.5	5 of 564	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	4 of 554	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	98.9	5 of 557	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 560	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 553	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	99.9	4 of 552	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	99.9	1 of 548	99.8%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)100th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)100th percentile~ school

Female (2025)100th percentile~ school

Male (2025)100th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)100th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)99th percentile~ school

White (2025)99th percentile~ school

African American (2025)99th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)98th percentile~ school

Asian (2025)98th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)93rd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts94%+42 vs state

Science92%+44 vs state

Mathematics92%+53 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Wednesday, November 11, 2009

it is awesomeee!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Payton College Preparatory High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2025)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2025)		PreACT Secure Science (2025)		ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Payton College Preparatory High School	Public	9-12	1034 N Wells St	Chicago	60610	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 534-0034	1,260	87	14.5	33.3%	400 (31.7%)	122 (9.7%)	329 (26.1%)	345 (27.4%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	57 (4.5%)	99.5	3^rd of 698 public high schools	99.6%		100	3^rd of 697 public high schools	99.6%		97.1	97.9	91.0	93.3	92.8	95.7	93.8	92.0	92.3	87.1	98.5	98.4	98.4	92.3	98.5	98.2	94.1	$16,953	$1,281	$15,671
Noble St Charter-The Noble Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	1443 N Ogden Ave	Chicago	60610	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 574-1527	415	35	11.8	81.9%	6 (1.4%)	212 (51.1%)	180 (43.4%)	8 (1.9%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.4%)	22.8	549^th of 698 public high schools	21.3%		24.3	510^th of 697 public high schools	26.8%	39	43.1	31.0	9.0	13.8	36.9	21.8	41.8	14.6	24.6									$27,257	$2,273	$24,984
Ogden Intermediate High School	Public	9-12	1250 W Erie St	Chicago	60642	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 534-0866	519	104	5.0	66.1%	60 (11.6%)	246 (47.4%)	195 (37.6%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	33.6	489^th of 698 public high schools	29.9%		32.9	453^rd of 697 public high schools	35.0%	36	47.5	45.0	16.4	16.7	19.2	23.7	52.3	21.3	47.7	91.7	96.8	96.8	96.8	91.5	95.3	95.5	87.4
Lincoln Park High School	Public	9-12	2001 N Orchard St	Chicago	60614	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 534-8130	2,214	130	17.0	43.7%	676 (30.5%)	487 (22.0%)	646 (29.2%)	275 (12.4%)	8 (0.4%)	7 (0.3%)	113 (5.1%)	86.3	78^th of 698 public high schools	88.8%		91.6	61^st of 697 public high schools	91.2%	17	75.2	75.1	51.8	51.0	56.0	63.0	75.0	50.2	67.1	86.1	89.0	89.0	89.0	83.7	88.1	88.0	71.4	$15,515	$1,289	$14,226
YCCS-Innovations of Arts Integr	Public, Charter	9-12	17 N State St	Chicago	60602	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 999-9360	392	12	32.6	89.3%	5 (1.3%)	342 (87.2%)	42 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	4.2	683^rd of 698 public high schools	2.1%		10.1	676^th of 697 public high schools	3.0%	7		5.9		0.0		11.8	0.0	0.0	6.4									$23,011	$1,524	$21,487
Noble St Charter-Muchin College Prep	Public, Charter	9-12	1 N State St	Chicago	60602	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 445-4680	909	51	18.0	72.5%	12 (1.3%)	442 (48.6%)	411 (45.2%)	40 (4.4%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24.2	540^th of 698 public high schools	22.6%		30.4	469^th of 697 public high schools	32.7%	71	39.3	43.9	12.2	10.7	31.1	29.9	35.1	14.3	30.2									$21,519	$1,710	$19,809
Noble St Charter-Noble Campus	Public, Charter	9-12	1010 N Noble St	Chicago	60642	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 862-1449	696	47	14.8	73.1%	20 (2.9%)	119 (17.1%)	536 (77.0%)	12 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	45.8	384^th of 698 public high schools	45.0%		48.1	324^th of 697 public high schools	53.5%	60	47.6	39.9	24.0	20.2	53.3	37.9	54.1	28.7	45.9									$21,277	$1,752	$19,525
Intrinsic 2 Charter High School	Public, Charter	9-12	79 W Monroe St Ste 400	Chicago	60603	Cook County	Intrinsic 2 Charter High School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 887-2810	734	64	11.5	43.2%	20 (2.7%)	331 (45.1%)	322 (43.9%)	38 (5.2%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	18 (2.5%)	21.7	556^th of 698 public high schools	20.3%		21.9	530^th of 697 public high schools	24.0%	26	41.2	32.6	17.6	14.2	25.1	28.3	29.4	12.8	32.3									$23,337	$2,354	$20,982
Noble St Charter Rauner College Prep	Public, Charter	9-12	1337 W Ohio St	Chicago	60642	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 226-5345	558	36	15.5	84.9%	15 (2.7%)	151 (27.1%)	384 (68.8%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	19.2	565^th of 698 public high schools	19.1%		20	548^th of 697 public high schools	21.4%	17	42.3	33.0	25.0	8.2	23.7	19.6	29.8	11.3	22.5									$23,093	$1,740	$21,353
Noble St Charter-Golder College Prep	Public, Charter	9-12	1454 W Superior St	Chicago	60642	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 265-9925	633	40	15.8	89.1%	14 (2.2%)	174 (27.5%)	437 (69.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	25.6	532^nd of 698 public high schools	23.8%		30.9	466^th of 697 public high schools	33.1%	66	41.4	35.1	14.8	14.0	37.7	29.8	32.5	16.5	33.1									$20,534	$1,780	$18,755

Frequently Asked Questions about Payton College Preparatory High School

Is Payton College Preparatory High School a good school?

Yes! Payton College Preparatory High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 3^rd of 698 Illinois high schools.

What district is Payton College Preparatory High School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

What is the racial makeup of Payton College Preparatory High School?

Students at Payton College Preparatory High School are 32% White, 27% Asian, 26% Hispanic, 10% African American, 5% Two or more races.

How many students attend Payton College Preparatory High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,260 students attended Payton College Preparatory High School.

Rate Payton College Preparatory High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.