Moonpreneur Icon

Best High Schools in Illinois
(2026 List)

Moonpreneur’s rating is based primarily on the STEM performance of the School using the Math Score of the School. We also take into account the Student teacher ratio, the review and rating by others. Read more on how STEM ranking was calculated.

There is great momentum for Illinois high schools, as evidenced by the graduation rate of the state (89% in year 15) and freshman on-track measurement (89.3%). These results show that Illinois has high-quality schools, ranked at the 22nd highest in the country, with a set of more challenging and “right-sized” college readiness benchmarks implemented in 2025 to reflect those outcomes. Additionally, Illinois offers some of the best colleges and universities in the nation, as well as greater access to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), dual credit, and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs. As the number of diverse teachers increases, the best high schools in Illinois offer both academic rigor and a commitment to performance accountability, including the best middle schools in Illinois.