20 Best Public High Schools in Chicago – 2025

When it comes to securing a top-tier education for your child, the city of Chicago has so much to offer. In this blog post, I’ll dive into the best public high schools in Chicago, highlighting the institutions that stand out for their academic excellence, extracurricular opportunities, and supportive environments. So whether you’re a parent seeking the best public schools in Chicago for your child’s future, or a student aspiring to join one of Chicago’s top-ranked high schools, I’m here to help you make an informed decision. (If you’re looking for schools outside of Chicago, check out the best public high schools in Illinois.) One more thing — because of any of the schools below will provide a top-notch education, this list is presented in alphabetical order.

Best Public High Schools in Chicago

1) Amundsen High School

• Enrollment: 1,500
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 508.7 / 497.5

Alma mater to nine-time Tony award-winning choreographer and theater director Bob Fosse, Amundsen High School is also the first school in the US to offer students access to a James Dyson Foundation Design and Engineering Makerspace. This includes 3-D printers and scanners, electronic cutters, saws, drills, and other tools.

2) Back of The Yards College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 1,332
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 447.4 / 456.9

Back of The Yards Prep’s mission is to enrich students with a variety of experiences that foster international-mindedness and global perspectives. To accomplish this, they offer an International Baccalaureate Programme, as well as 8 AP courses, a Dual Language program, a Career and Technical Education program, a comprehensive Fine Arts program, and a community-focused athletics program.

3) Disney II Magnet High School 

• Enrollment: 737 (grades 7-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 10:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 479.1 / 425.7

I know what you’re wondering — “That Disney?” Actually, the Disney II Magnet HS is an off-shoot of the original Walt Disney Magnet School, named for Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney. Refreshingly, rather than merely parroting the usual pablum about “excellence,” this school’s mission and vision highlight both grit and a growth mindset.

4) Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 971 (grades 7-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 565.8 / 533.8

Yet another selective-enrollment school, Brooks College Prep Academy is named for Chicago native and former U.S. Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks. Named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018, their students can choose between 9 academic pathways, including life sciences, engineering, computer science, music, digital media, visual arts, advanced math, humanities, and writing.

5) John Hancock College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 1,024
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 559 / 539.8

Hancock College Prep is a selective-enrollment school and also Chicago’s first Democracy School. Dedicated to expanding civic learning opportunities, Democracy Schools empower students to maintain democracy. Hancock’s students hope to form an elected group with students from other schools, which would communicate students’ needs to the Board of Education as well as other policy-makers.

6) Jones College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 1,960
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 617.7 / 608.8

Alma mater to Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper, Jones College Prep is another selective enrollment school. It was the first school in the Chicago Public Schools district to be named a National Blue Ribbon in 2006, and has since received the honor twice more in 2012 and 2020.

7) Lane Technical High School

• Enrollment: 4,515 (grades 7-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 632.2 / 609.8

And another selective-enrollment school, Lane Tech College Prep offers an exceptional and extensive computer science program, an advanced STEM program, and over 25 science electives, including neuroscience, zoology, marine biology, and aquaponics. Additionally, students can hone their creative side with music courses like piano, hip hop, and sound engineering, as well as art and drama courses. And to really round out the curriculum, students can study languages such as Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and Spanish for Spanish speakers.

8) Lincoln Park High School

• Enrollment: 2,094
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 525 / 511.8

Lincoln Park High School offers three magnet schools: the Fine & Performing Arts school, the very selective International Baccalaureate Program, and the Advanced College Prep school. Students can also choose between 60 clubs and 25 varsity sports. (No, not that “Linkin Park.”)

9) Kenwood Academy High School

• Enrollment: 2,294 (grades 7-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 490.3 / 471

Students at Kenwood Academy have many opportunities to take courses and work closely with faculty at the prestigious University of Chicago. Additionally, Kenwood has a fantastic music program. What’s more, Kenwood’s Concert Choir performed for President Barack Obama and shared billing with Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and Grammy-winning gospel choir The Winans. Also, their jazz ensemble “Jazz in the Wood” has performed at many festivals around the city.

10) Lindblom Math & Science Academy

• Enrollment: 1,332 (grades 7-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 552 / 523.8

Another selective enrollment school, Lindblom Math & Science Academy boasts a gorgeous Beaux Arts, neo-classical facade with Roman columns designed by architect Arthur Hussander. Similar to Northside College Prep, Lindblom operates in a block schedule with colloquium and flex blocks on Wednesdays. And to best meet their students’ needs, Lindblom implements proficiency-based learning.

11) Northside College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 1,030
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 668.1 / 658.7

Northside College Preparatory High School is a selective-enrollment school whose admission is determined by a student’s grades, standardized test scores, entrance exam scores, and socio-economic status. Aside from their P.E. courses, Northside exclusively teaches students at Honors and AP levels. Additionally, Northside operates on a unique version of a block schedule. Each class meets two days a week, while Wednesdays are reserved for colloquium classes and flex blocks. Colloquium is an experience- and project-focused class where students explore interests such as motorcycle repair, quilting, robotics, photography, etc. And students use flex blocks to meet their weekly needs, like taking a tutoring course in a specific subject to help with homework. Overall, Northside is a prime example of one of the best public high schools in Chicago.

12) Ogden International High School

• Enrollment: 507
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 463.4 / 442.7

Like me, you’re probably wondering if Ogden’s 5:1 student-teacher ratio is a typo — it’s not. Located at the West Campus of Ogden International School, OIHS offers IB, AP, and dual-enrollment courses. Unlike some of the pressure-cooker schools on this list, OIHS is exceptionally supportive of students’ mental and emotional well-being. As an “Exemplary Supportive School,” OIHS gets high marks for social and emotional learning.

13) Phoenix STEM Military Academy High School

• Enrollment: 400
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 456 / 438.5

Students at Phoenix STEM Military Academy are required to take classes that prepare them for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), in addition to classes in STEM subjects, core subjects, arts, and foreign languages.

14) Prosser Career Academy High School

• Enrollment: 1,163
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 439.9 / 431.3

Offering everything from IB to career and technical education, PCA is a powerhouse of social mobility. Their vision and mission statement reflect this commitment. Prosser’s website includes an equity stance, which asserts that staff and teachers “will validate students’ identity and cultural background…because we understand their past experience impacts their performance in school.” Finally, if you want to see what’s going on in the heads of Prosser students, check out this collection of poems from Ms. Begley’s English II honors class.

15) Solorio Academy High School

• Enrollment: 1,231
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 446.8 / 453.4

Home of the Sun Warriors, Solorio Academy High School offers 14 AP courses as well as 4 college readiness pathways: early college program, traditional college preparation, CTE pre-engineering, and CTE web design. With their focus on college and career readiness, it’s not surprising that Solorio is one of the best public high schools in Chicago.

16) South Shore International College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 562
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 437.7 / 416.5

In its mission statement (which thankfully eschews the most common buzzwords), SSI states that it encourages students to “think critically, write purposefully, and apply learning in real-world situations to prepare…for post-secondary excellence as leaders who will impact…local and global communities.” Furthermore, South Shore offers both the IB middle years program as well as the IB diploma program.

17) Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center

• Enrollment: 1,668
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 502.7 / 493.1

At Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center students choose between two programs: Scholars and Magnet College Prep. Scholars is a selective program that challenges students with all honors and AP-level coursework. On the other hand, Magnet College Prep challenges students with the same curriculum as Scholars, with the added option to adjust the intensity of coursework to meet each student’s needs.

18) Walter Payton College Preparatory High School

• Enrollment: 1,257
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 661.1 / 653.5

If you ask ten people to name the best public high school in Illinois, at least 7 of them are going to name Payton Prep. Honestly, it’s not only one of the best schools in the city — it’s often ranked top ten in the country. As a “selective-enrollment” public high school, Payton draws students from all over the city. Because of this, its student population is markedly different from the surrounding district. While 76% of the students in the district are low-income, only 33% of Payton’s students qualify. Similarly, while just over 11% of the students in the district are white, over 45% of Payton’s student body is melanin-deprived. Perhaps because of this, Payton offers both lacrosse and sailing (exactly what you’d expect from one of the best public high schools in Chicago).

19) Westinghouse College Prep

• Enrollment: 1,225
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 492.2 / 469.4

Westinghouse College Prep is also a selective enrollment school that implements Proficiency-Based Learning. They offer extensive honors and AP courses, as well as dual enrollment through the University of Illinois, Chicago. Additionally, they offer a wide variety of clubs such as Nintendo Club, Rainbow Circle, Northwestern Medicine Scholars, Girls with a Vision, Sunshine Yoga Club, Puzzle & Jungle Lounge, and Pop-Rock Club.

20) Young Magnet High School

• Enrollment: 2,213 (grades 7-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 (grades 7-12)
• Average SAT Score (ELA/Math): 626.4 / 622.9

Admission to Young Magnet High School is determined by entrance exam performance, grades, and standardized test scores. Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama is a proud alumna and the recently built $4.3 million athletic complex was named after her.

Final Thoughts

By exploring the options and understanding what each institution has to offer, parents and students can find the best public schools in Chicago that align with their educational goals and personal interests. With the right choice, students can thrive and prepare for a bright future. But if you’re not quite drawn to any of the best public high schools in Chicago, try the best public high schools in Illinois or the best private high schools in Chicago. Want to read more about high school excellence? Check out the links below.

• 20 Best Public High Schools in Illinois 
• 17 Best Performing Arts High Schools in the US
• 20 Best High Schools in North Carolina
• 20 Best Public High Schools in Texas
• Best High Schools in Florida
• 10 Best Online High Schools
• 20 Best Public High Schools in NYC
• 20 Best Public High Schools in Maryland
• Best Public Schools in Georgia