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Best Public High Schools in Cook County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Cook County Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 273 public high schools serving 227,154 students in Cook County, IL.
The top-ranked public high schools in Cook County, IL are Northside College Preparatory High School, Young Magnet High School and Lane Technical High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cook County, IL public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Illinois public high school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 29% statewide average). High schools in Cook County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Illinois public high schools.
Cook County, IL public high school have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is equal to the Illinois average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Hancock College Preparatory High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Illinois or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Illinois public high school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Cook County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Northside College Preparatory High School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
5501 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 534-3954
Gr: 9-12 | 1,061 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #22.
Young Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
211 S Laflin St
Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 534-7500
Gr: 7-12 | 2,223 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #33.
Lane Technical High School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
2501 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 534-5400
Gr: 7-12 | 4,604 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
Payton College Preparatory High School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1034 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 534-0034
Gr: 9-12 | 1,260 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #55.
Jones College Prep High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
700 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
(773) 534-8600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,954 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #66.
Glenbrook North High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2300 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-6400
Gr: 9-12 | 2,111 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #77.
New Trier Township H S Winnetka
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
385 Winnetka Ave
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-7000
Gr: 10-12 | 2,770 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #88.
Wm Fremd High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1000 S Quentin Rd
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 755-2610
Gr: 9-12 | 2,689 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #99.
John Hersey High School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1900 E Thomas St
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 718-4800
Gr: 9-12 | 2,040 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1010.
Glenbrook South High School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4000 W Lake Ave
Glenview, IL 60026
(847) 729-2000
Gr: 9-12 | 2,923 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Center For Alternative Learning
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1601 Wentworth Ave
Calumet City, IL 60409
(708) 585-9401
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Cook Co Juvenile-jefferson Alt High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1100 S Hamilton Ave
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 433-7110
Gr: 6-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Excel Academy - Englewood High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
7141 S Morgan St
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 675-6654
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Higgins Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1100 W Higgins Rd
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
(847) 755-6640
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Morton Alternative Schools
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
415 Lexington St, West 40 Isc
Maywood, IL 60153
(708) 449-4284
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Newcomer Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2121 S Goebbert Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 718-7836
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Pathways In Education - Humboldt
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2421 W Division St
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 553-1530
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Ralph J Frost Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1177 S Dee Rd
Park Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 292-6521
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Regl Inst Scholastic Excellence
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
405 Ashland Ave
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 754-6600
Gr: 6-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Regl Inst Scholastic Excellence
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11218 S Ridgeland Ave
Worth, IL 60482
(708) 671-0935
Gr: 6-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Simpson Academy High School For Young Women
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1321 S Paulina St
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 534-7812
Gr: 6-12
Rank: #11 - 2211. - 22.
Vaughn Occupational High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4355 N Linder Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 534-3600
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #2323.
Prospect High School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
801 W Kensington Rd
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
(847) 718-5200
Gr: 9-12 | 2,245 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2424.
Oak Park & River Forest High School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
201 N Scoville Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 383-0700
Gr: 9-12 | 3,307 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #2525.
Brooks College Prep Academy High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
250 E 111th St
Chicago, IL 60628
(773) 535-9930
Gr: 7-12 | 1,007 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2626.
Maine South High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1111 S Dee Rd
Park Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 825-7711
Gr: 9-12 | 2,494 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #2727.
Lyons Twp High School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
100 S Brainard Ave
La Grange, IL 60525
(708) 579-6300
Gr: 9-12 | 3,706 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #2828.
Hancock College Preparatory High School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5437 W 64th Pl
Chicago, IL 60638
(773) 535-2410
Gr: 9-12 | 1,050 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Bronzeville Scholastic High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4934 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 535-1150
Gr: 9-12 | 119 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Douglass Academy High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
543 N Waller Ave
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 534-6176
Gr: 9-12 | 29 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Iyc Chicago
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
136 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 633-5219
Gr: 6-12 | 37 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Rank: #3232.
J B Conant High School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 E Cougar Trl
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
(847) 755-3610
Gr: 9-12 | 2,633 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #3333.
Lincoln Park High School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2001 N Orchard St
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 534-8130
Gr: 9-12 | 2,214 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #3434.
Glenbrook Off Campus
Alternative School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 40-59% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1835 Landwehr Rd
Glenview, IL 60026
(847) 486-5700
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #3535.
Lemont Twp High School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
800 Porter St
Lemont, IL 60439
(630) 257-5838
Gr: 9-12 | 1,284 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Cook County, IL?
The top-ranked public high schools in Cook County, IL include Northside College Preparatory High School, Young Magnet High School and Lane Technical High School.
How many public high schools are located in Cook County?
279 public high schools are located in Cook County.
What is the racial composition of students in Cook County?
Cook County public high schools minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Illinois public high schools average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Cook County are often viewed compared to one another?

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