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

Redshirt freshman 125-pounder Dedrick Navarro’s gutsy decision win over No. 27 Blake West set the tone for Northwestern’s statement 29-8 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday. 

NU entered its dual season opener with a point to prove, having lost to Northern Illinois 18-17 to start last year. 

“After dropping a match to them that stung for a whole year, it was nice to go out there and not just win, but to really put it on them and win in dominating fashion,” coach Matt Storniolo said.

The night got off to a flying start as Navarro pulled off a stunning upset over West. An escape and a takedown by West put Navarro in a 0-4 hole entering the third period, but he battled back, scoring a takedown of his own before a trip with seconds left vaulted him to a 7-6 decision win. 

Navarro said he tried to push the pace in the moment, and it felt good to get his first win of the dual season.

“We’ve only got a few years of this, so I’m just soaking it in and being grateful, having fun and putting on a show,” Navarro said.

The Huskies notched their first team points of the night in the 133-pound bout as redshirt sophomore Markel Baker won by major decision over sophomore Massey Odiotti. Three Baker takedowns in the first period cemented his 14-3 victory. 

Graduate student 141-pounder No. 10 Chris Cannon made his NU homecoming with a 9-3 decision win over NIU’s Charles Curtis. 

A two-time All-American for the Wildcats, Cannon transferred to Michigan before the 2024 season but missed nearly all of it after suffering a head injury in his dual season opener exactly one year ago Sunday. Storniolo said Cannon was not back to full strength yet, but that didn’t stop him from competing and winning.

“It was good for him to know that he’s still got that fight inside him,” he said.

No. 20. redshirt freshman 149-pounder Sam Cartella’s 15-0 win by technical fall put the ’Cats in the driver’s seat, and they didn’t look back from there. Dominant decision wins by No. 12 graduate student 157-pounder Trevor Chumbley and No. 16 redshirt senior 165-pounder Maxx Mayfield ran up the team score. Then, redshirt sophomore 174-pounder Joseph Martin secured his first dual meet win of his career, lasting nearly a minute underneath NIU’s Jake Evans without conceding a takedown and holding onto a narrow 4-0 lead.

Graduate student 184-pounder Jon Halvorsen secured extra team points by scoring a late takedown in his match, upgrading his victory from a decision win to a major decision win. He said his feelings after the win were unexplainable.

“The guys around me believe in me, and the coaches I have believe in me,” he said. “It’s just a reflection of my team and how awesome these guys are.”

A professional 19-4 win by No. 25 redshirt junior 197-pounder Evan Bates put the finishing touch on the NU rout.

Redshirt freshman 285-pounder Dirk Morley lost his match with NIU’s Jacob Christensen to end the night. An initially strong defensive performance unraveled in the third period, ending the night with a 12-2 loss by major decision.

In its return to the mat nine months after posting a 1-9 record, NU matched last season’s win total in one night. Storniolo attributed the team’s improvement to Cannon’s return to Evanston, Cartella’s continuing dominance in the 149-pound weight class and new faces like Navarro entering the lineup.

“Guys are hungry this year,” Storniolo said. “They feel like they really have something to prove after last year. They want to let the rest of Division I wrestling know that we’re a strong program, and last year doesn’t represent who we are as a team.”

The ’Cats are back at Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday at 2 p.m. to take on Little Rock.

Email: [email protected]

X: @sidvaraman

Related Stories:

—Wrestling: Northwestern starts season with three second-place finishes at Michigan State Open

—Wrestling: Northwestern earns first win before conference championships

—Wrestling: Winless Northwestern drops weekend matches to Wisconsin and Minnesota