These Are The Best Middle Schools In IL: U.S. News Ranking

CHICAGO — Six of the top 10 best middle schools in Illinois are part of Chicago Public Schools, according to a new analysis by U.S. News & World Report.

The 2025 best middle schools rankings includes more than 2,500 in Illinois and scores them based on state assessment scores and publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Scores were analyzed in the context of socioeconomic demographics, and student-teacher ratios were used as a tiebreaker when schools scored equally.

LaMont Jones, U.S. News’ managing editor for education, said research shows that students’ academic performance in early grades can be major indication of their success at the secondary and postsecondary levels.

“The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success,” Jones said in a release. “The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education.”

Top 10 Middle Schools In Illinois

1. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
Grades: K–8
Enrollment: 267

2. Young Magnet High School – Chicago
Grades: 7–12
Enrollment: 2,148

3. Lane Technical High School – Chicago
Grades: 7–12
Enrollment: 4,496

4. Decatur Classical Elementary School – Chicago
Grades: K–6
Enrollment: 323

5. Reservoir Gifted School – Peoria
Grades: 5–8
Enrollment: 277

6. Skinner North Elementary School – Chicago
Grades: K–8
Enrollment: 490

7. Thurgood Marshall School – Rockford
Grades: 5–8
Enrollment: 482

8. Taft High School – Chicago
Grades: 7–12
Enrollment: 4,464

9. Hickory Creek Middle School – Frankfort
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 910

10. Lena-Winslow Junior High School – Lena
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 165

Below is the list of the top 25 middle schools in Illinois located outside of Chicago (the top four are also listed above) with their grade levels and enrollment.

It includes 12 schools in Cook County, two each in DuPage, Lake, Peoria and Winnebago counties, and one each from Clinton, Effingham, Grundy, Stephenson and Tazewell counties.

Top 25 Illinois Middle Schools Outside Chicago

1. Reservoir Gifted School – Peoria
Grades: 5–8
Enrollment: 277

2. Thurgood Marshall School – Rockford
Grades: 5–8
Enrollment: 482

3. Hickory Creek Middle School – Frankfort
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 910

4. Lena-Winslow Junior High School – Lena
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 165

5. Northbrook Junior High School – Northbrook
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 631

6. Kennedy Junior High School – Lisle
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 931

7. Teutopolis Junior High School – Teutopolis
Grades: 7–8
Enrollment: 178

8. Highcrest Middle School – Wilmette
Grades: 5–6
Enrollment: 760

9. Daniel Wright Junior High School – Lincolnshire
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 764

10. Margaret Mead Junior High School – Elk Grove Village
Grades: 7–8
Enrollment: 671

11. Aviston Elementary School – Aviston
Grades: PK–8
Enrollment: 429

12. Park Junior High School – La Grange Park
Grades: 7–8
Enrollment: 694

13. Marie Murphy School – Wilmette
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 276

14. Willowbrook Middle School – South Beloit
Grades: 5–8
Enrollment: 296

15. Dunlap Middle School – Dunlap
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 544

16. Sunset Ridge Elementary School – Northfield
Grades: 4–8
Enrollment: 249

17. Westfield Middle School – Bloomingdale
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 484

18. Saratoga Elementary School – Morris
Grades: PK–8
Enrollment: 772

19. Field School – Northbrook
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 309

20. Central School – Glencoe
Grades: 5–8
Enrollment: 568

21. Wood Oaks Junior High School – Northbrook
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 475

22. McClure Junior High School – Western Springs
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 455

23. Highland Middle School – Libertyville
Grades: 6–8
Enrollment: 755

24. Morton Junior High School – Morton
Grades: 7–8
Enrollment: 485

25. The Joseph Sears School – Kenilworth
Grades: PK–8
Enrollment: 471

More information is available from U.S. News & World Report’s full list of the best Illinois middle schools