Illinois' best elementary schools revealed in new report. Here are the top 25

A number of schools from Chicago and the suburbs were recognized as among the top elementary schools in Illinois, according to a new list.

The “2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools” list from U.S. News and World Report examined more than 79,000 public schools in all 50 states, a press release revealed. Editors used publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze mathematics and reading performance at the state and district levels — while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects.

For a school corporation to receive a district-level ranking, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75% of the overall elementary or middle school rankings, according to the website. In all, 47,573 elementary schools and 23,861 middle schools were assessed.

In Illinois, a total of 3,421 schools were ranked. Seven of the top 25 schools in the state were Chicago Public Schools, including the top school, Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center.

Almost all of the top 25 schools were in either the city or suburbs — except for No. 10 – Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Rockford and No. 22 – Congerville Elementary School in downstate Woodford County.

Following behind Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center was Hinsdale’s Oak Elementary School and Naperville’s Meadows Glen Elementary School at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center, a Chicago Public School, and Brook Forest Elementary School rounded out the top five.

Here’s a look into the top 25 elementary schools in Illinois, according to the report.

1. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
2. Oak Elementary School – Hinsdale
3. Meadows Glen Elementary School – Naperville
4. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
5. Brook Forest Elementary School – Oak Brook
6. Elm Elementary School – Burr Ridge
7. Forest Hills Elementary School – Western Springs
8. The Lane Elementary School – Hinsdale
9. Eisenhower Academy – Joliet
10. Thurgood Marshall Elementary School – Rockford
11. Skinner North Elementary School – Chicago
12. Greenbriar Elementary School – Northbrook
13. Westmoor Elementary School – Northbrook
14. Ellsworth Elementary School – Naperville
15. Prospect Elementary School – Clarendon Hills
16. Walker School – Clarendon Hills
17. Lincoln Elementary School – River Forest
18. Highlands Elementary School – Naperville
19. Bronzeville Classical Elementary School – Chicago
20. George B Carpenter Elementary School – Park Ridge
21. Madison Elementary School – Hinsdale
22. Congerville Elementary School – Congerville
23. Decatur Classical Elementary School – Chicago
24. Lincoln Elementary School – Chicago
25. Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy – Chicago