Education has been a hot topic in Illinois politics in 2014, and the conversation is likely to continue into 2015, with debates on a school funding bill in the General Assembly around the corner and discussions about Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner’s education plan on the horizon.

These are the 20 schools that City Described says are the best in the state right now. See stats about the schools from City Described below the graphic.

20 high schools

20. Riverside Brookfield High School

  • 75% proficiency in reading and math
  • 62% participation in Advanced Placement
  • 66 instructors for its 1,400 students

19. Lane Technical High School

  • Selective Enrollment
  • New science and technology curriculum
  • 4,000 students

18. Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy

  • Opened in 2001
  • 769 students
  • 90% pass rate for Advanced Placement tests

17. New Trier Township High School Winnetka

  • $15,000 per-student spending
  • 98% college-bound students in 2013
  • 120 state athletic championships

16. Lincoln Park High School

  • 2,200 students
  • Offers the International Baccalaureate Program
  • 65% of students met or exceeded reading standards

15. John Hersey High School

  • 85% pass rate for Advanced Placement exams
  • Offers Chinese language classes
  • Named one of the top 30 high schools in the country by U.S. News and World Report

14. Hinsdale Central High School

  • $11,000 per-pupil spending
  • 89% math competence
  • 98% graduation rate

13. Highland Park High School

  • 61% of students
  • First place in the Model U.N. Club competition
  • 99% four-year graduation rate

12. Adlai E. Stevenson High School

  • Nearly 4,000 students
  • 2010 National School of Distinction in Arts Education award recipient
  • 86% AP test pass rate

11. Deerfield High School

  • Boys and girls tennis champions 2004-2005 and 2005-206
  • 89% met or exceeded district math and reading standards
  • Named a 2009 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education

10. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

  • 2,0o0 students
  • 75% of students met or exceeded reading standards
  • 82% of the student body is enrolled in AP courses

9. Jones College Prep

  • 10% of students exceed mathematic expectations
  • 92% of students are enrolled in Advanced Placement
  • 81% passed AP exams

8. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School

  • 96% passed state math tests
  • 93% passed AP exams
  • Named for Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears football team

7. Northside College Preparatory High School

  • 769 enrolled students
  • Student body is made up of 99% minority students
  • 57% AP exam pass rate

6. Lake Forest High School

  • Nearly 99% of its 2005 graduating class went to college
  • 96% of faculty hold advanced degrees
  • Recognized as a top school by the New York Times and Washington Post

5. Glenbrook South High School

  • Named the 2008 National GRAMMY school for its music program
  • Offers specialized foreign-language tracks
  • Nationally recognized debate team

4. Vernon Hills High School

  • 20.3 students in an average class
  • 97 out of 111 instructors hold advanced degrees
  • 2012 mean composite ACT score of 25.4

3. Naperville Central High School

  • Features an ancient Egyptian mummy
  • The school’s 2010 junior class had 14 perfect ACT scores
  • Nearly 97% of its class of 2008 graduated

2. Prospect High School

  • Nearly 95% of its class of 2008 graduated
  • Features international exchange student program in partnership with schools in France, Italy and Spain
  • Girls’ golf state champions in 2011 and 2013

1. Geneva Community High School

  • Founded 1876
  • 24.2 2010 average composite ACT score
  • 85% AP exam pass rate in 2010

 

NEXT ARTICLE: Education Calculations: How much local, state and federal funding Illinois school districts receive

 

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