The Top 10 High Schools in Illinois Have Been Revealed

Every year, US News compiles a ranking of the best high schools in the country. This list examines over 25,000 educational institutions in America, which is overwhelming to ponder even for a second. However, thanks to several tools that US News provides, you can whittle the data down to high schools from specific states, and then specific districts and zip codes therein, if you so choose.

After Tom Drake compiled a list of the top 10 high schools in Iowa, I decided to take a look at the 10 best public high schools in Illinois. US News looks at several key indicators to make this list, including:

• College readiness
• State assessment proficiency
• Graduation rate
• Also: data is gathered from the U.S. Department of Education's Common Core of Data

Without further adieu, here's a look at the top 10 public high schools in Illinois, per US News:

10. New Trier Township High School (Winnetka):

New Trier High School in Winnetka was praised for its inclusion of Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams. The AP participation rate at the high school is a whopping 61% with the total minority enrollment at 24% with students posting high marks in the respective courses to boot.

9. Hancock College Preparatory High School (Chicago):

Students who graduate Hancock College Preparatory High School are some of the most college-ready students in the state, according to US News. Furthermore, their performance rank is in the top 10 of Illinois and they are also tied with the 15th highest graduation rate.

8. Vernon Hills High School (Vernon Hills):

More than half of the students at Vernon Hills High School are proficient in all three major fields of study (reading, mathematics, and science). Couple that with the fact that 73% took at least on AP exam, and 67% of those passed at least one, it's easy to see how this school ranks in the top 10 high schools in the entire state of Illinois.

7. Brooks College Prep Academy High School (Chicago):

Brooks College Prep Academy students aren't just some of the most college-ready individuals in the whole state, but also the entire country, ranking in the top 400. The students are also tied for the state assessment performance ranking at #158, and the graduation rate is among the top 50 in Illinois.

6. Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire):.

With an overall score of 98.9/100, Adlai E. Stevenson High School exceeded by almost every measurable metric. The only high school in District 125, Adlai E. Stevenson has over 70% of students proficient in reading, mathematics, and science, a 96% graduation rate, and over 73% students enrolled/having taken an AP exam

5. Lane Technical High School (Chicago):

With an enrollment of over 4,000 students, Lane Technical High School has a lot of kids to keep track of. The good news is that the work they've been doing is paying off in spades.

Lane Tech scored 99.66/100. An eye-popping 99% of kids have taken at least one AP exam, and over 80% are proficient in reading, mathematics, and science. The school is also in the top 150 in the country in everything from college-readiness to the college curriculum breadth index.

4. Jones College Prep High School (Chicago):

Jones College Prep High School has over 117 full-time/equivalent teachers, and those teachers have been hard at work in making sure their students are prepared for college. Jones College Prep is just outside the top 100 in the country college-readiness and approximately 96% of students have taken at least one AP exam. With that, 89% of students have passed at least one AP exam.

3. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (Chicago):

If Whitney M. Young Magnet High School sounds familiar, it might be because of its incredibly famous alumni. The Matrix directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski both attended the school as did John Tobias, who developed the video game Mortal Kombat. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School students are among the top five most college-ready students in the state, and the school ranked #2 in state assessment proficiency.

2. Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago):

I had to do a double take when I saw that 98% of students at Northside College Prep have taken at least one AP exam. I only took one in high school, so that makes me feel inadequate. Over 90% of students at Northside College Prep are proficient in reading, mathematics, and science, and the graduation rate is 99%. That explains why the school got a 99.8/100 on their scorecard.

1. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School (Chicago):

It's so very Chicago that the #1 high school in the entire state is named after one of the all-time greatest Chicago Bears players, and one of the GOATs of the sport, for that matter.

The legendary Sweetness can smile knowing that the school that harbors his namesake is ranked #5 best in the entire country with 95% of students proficient in reading and mathematics. The graduation rate for the prep school is also 100%. It's as good as it gets when it comes to Payton College Prep.

View the full rankings of all Illinois public high schools on US News' website.