Suburban schools make U.S. News’ ‘Best High Schools’ list

Several suburban high schools received top grades in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best High Schools list, according to data released Tuesday.

The new data highlights top-performing public, charter and STEM schools across all 50 states and major metropolitan areas.

The top 25 high schools in Illinois include:

• No. 4: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora

• No. 8: Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire

• No. 9: Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale

• No. 11: Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest

• No. 12: Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville

• No. 14: Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills

• No. 15: Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook

• No. 18: William Fremd High School in Palatine

• No. 19: Barrington High School in Barrington

• No. 20: Libertyville High School in Libertyville

• No. 22: John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights

• No. 23: Glenbrook South High School in Glenview

• No. 25: Metea Valley High School in Aurora

The rankings evaluate about 27,000 eligible public high schools at the national, state and local levels, with nearly 18,000 ranked.

Nationwide, few Illinois high schools cracked the top 100. Aside from four Chicago preparatory schools, the Illinois Math and Science Academy ranked 88th. Meanwhile, Massachusetts leads the nation with 47% of its high schools ranked in the top quarter of U.S. high schools, followed by New Jersey with 44% and Maryland with 43%.

Among metro areas, three stand out with the highest proportions of their ranked schools placing in the top 25% nationally: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California, leads with 60%; followed by McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, with 59%; and Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin, with 56%, according to the data.

While California and New Jersey lead the nation in the number of STEM schools (96 and 50, respectively), charter schools disproportionately dominate the national rankings, claiming 23% of the top 100 spots, the report says.

“Every student deserves a pathway to success, and that journey often begins with selecting the right school,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The 2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings empower families with the valuable data and transparency they need to help make the best educational choices for them. We are proud to offer this essential resource to help shape the next generation of college-ready students.”

Top schools were ranked based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required assessments, strong graduation rates and college readiness measures. Schools are evaluated on how effectively they serve all students, including underserved populations, with college readiness measured through student participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, the report says.

Along with state and national rankings, U.S. News also publishes a demographic breakdown of all ranked schools.

mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com