Top 100 middle schools in Illinois
October 30, 2009
The Chicago Sun-Times bases its exclusive rankings of schools on average scores on state achievement tests. How we ranked the schools.
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| Rank | 2008-2009 rank change** | 2009 percentile | Percentile change | School | District | City | County | % low income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 96.75 | -0.11 | Young Magnet H.S. * | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 34.9 |
| 2 | 0 | 95.02 | 1.04 | Edison Gifted* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 4.6 |
| 3 | 3 | 91.57 | 1.71 | Keller Gifted* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 16.3 |
| 4 | -1 | 91.39 | -2.17 | Lenart Gifted* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Adams | 20.2 |
| 5 | 0 | 91.18 | 1.12 | Washington Gifted* | Peoria SD 150 | Peoria | Peoria | 13.7 |
| 6 | -2 | 89.88 | -1.18 | Hawthorne Magnet | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 17.6 |
| 7 |
| 88.46 |
| Washington Gifted* | Rockford SD 205 | Rockford | Winnebago | 30.3 |
| 8 | 0 | 86.05 | 0.91 | Taft High School * | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 54 |
| 9 | 0 | 85.31 | 1.42 | Daniel Wright Jr HS | Lincshire-Prairieview SD 103 | Lincolnshire | Lake | 0 |
| 10 | -3 | 84.97 | -0.88 | Kennedy Jr HS | Naperville CUSD 203 | Lisle | DuPage | 3.5 |
| 11 | 14 | 84.85 | 4.38 | A. Jackson Lang Mag | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 31.7 |
| 12 | 20 | 83.65 | 4.78 | Bell Elem* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 22 |
| 13 | 14 | 83.52 | 3.52 | Butler Jr. H.S. | Butler SD 53 | Oak Brook | DuPage | 0.6 |
| 14 | 1 | 83.02 | 0.34 | Oriole Park Elem | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 18.3 |
| 15 | 2 | 82.89 | 0.82 | Skinner Classical* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 22.5 |
| 16 | 8 | 82.81 | 2.25 | Clarendon Hills Middle | Hinsdale CCSD 181 | Clarendon Hills | DuPage | 1.7 |
| 17 | 1 | 82.12 | 0.17 | Marie Murphy | Avoca SD 37 | Wilmette | Cook | 5.6 |
| 18 | -7 | 82.03 | -1.32 | Edgebrook Elem | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 11.6 |
| 19 | 1 | 81.77 | 0.58 | Maple | Northbrook/Glenview SD 30 | Northbrook | Cook | 1.9 |
| 20 | -8 | 81.24 | -2.08 | Hinsdale Middle | Hinsdale CCSD 181 | Hinsdale | DuPage | 5.8 |
| 21 | -8 | 81.1 | -2.05 | Lincoln Elem* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 13.4 |
| 22 | 1 | 80.99 | 0.27 | Wilmette Jr. H.S. | Wilmette SD 39 | Wilmette | Cook | 1.4 |
| 23 | 11 | 80.74 | 2.31 | McClure Jr. H.S. | Western Springs SD 101 | Western Springs | Cook | 0.2 |
| 24 | -5 | 80.65 | -1.21 | Washburne | Winnetka SD 36 | Winnetka | Cook | 0 |
| 25 | -10 | 80.23 | -2.45 | Roosevelt | River Forest SD 90 | River Forest | Cook | 3.5 |
| 26 | 30 | 80.05 | 6.05 | Bartelso Elementary | Bartelso SD 57 | Bartelso | Clinton | 2 |
| 27 | 3 | 79.91 | 0.66 | Woodlawn Middle | Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 | Long Grove | Lake | 6.1 |
| 28 | 0 | 79.86 | 0.33 | Twin Groves Middle | Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 | Buffalo Grove | Lake | 2.4 |
| 29 | -15 | 79.72 | -3.39 | LaSalle Language Mag | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 17.8 |
| 30 | 5 | 78.96 | 0.78 | Central | Glencoe SD 35 | Glencoe | Cook | 0 |
| 31 | 7 | 78.81 | 2.08 | Norwood Park | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 12.2 |
| 32 | 28 | 78.62 | 4.89 | Franklin Fine Arts Mag | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 34.9 |
| 33 | 7 | 78.45 | 2.34 | Deer Path Middle W | Lake Forest SD 67 | Lake Forest | Lake | 0.9 |
| 34 | -3 | 77.79 | -1.12 | Edgewood Middle | North Shore SD 112 | Highland Park | Lake | 3.8 |
| 35 | -9 | 77.49 | -2.95 | Kenwood Acad. H.S.* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 75.5 |
| 36 | -3 | 77.39 | -1.43 | Alan B. Shepard Middle | Deerfield SD 109 | Deerfield | Lake | 0.6 |
| 37 | -16 | 77.29 | -3.54 | Bannockburn | Bannockburn SD 106 | Bannockburn | Lake | 7 |
| 38 | -9 | 77.24 | -2.1 | Edison Middle | CUSD 200 | Wheaton | Dupage | 11.9 |
| 39 | 4 | 77.14 | 1.44 | Pleasantdale Middle | Pleasantdale SD 107 | Burr Ridge | Cook | 5.4 |
| 40 | 60 | 76.83 | 6.41 | Gower Middle | Gower SD 62 | Burr Ridge | DuPage | 10 |
| 41 | 74 | 76.42 | 6.93 | Lincoln Prairie | Schaumburg CCSD 54 | Hoffman Estates | Cook | 1.5 |
| 42 | 9 | 76.32 | 1.3 | Gordon Gregory Mid | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Naperville | DuPage | 2.2 |
| 42 | -32 | 76.32 | -7.12 | Joseph Sears | Kenilworth SD 38 | Kenilworth | Cook | 0 |
| 44 | 14 | 76.22 | 2.33 | St. Rose Elementary | St. Rose SD 14-15 | Breese | Clinton | 6 |
| 45 | -10 | 76.06 | -2.12 | Sunset Ridge Elem | Sunset Ridge SD 29 | Northfield | Cook | 1 |
| 46 | 1 | 75.96 | 0.71 | Aptakisic Jr. H.S. | Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102 | Buffalo Grove | Lake | 6.9 |
| 46 | -5 | 75.96 | 0.05 | Highland Middle | Libertyville SD 70 | Libertyville | Lake | 3.5 |
| 48 | -9 | 75.8 | -0.57 | Dunlap Middle | Dunlap CUSD 323 | Dunlap | Peoria | 5 |
| 49 | 0 | 75.75 | 0.63 | Rhodes Magnet | Evanston CCSD 65 | Skokie | Cook | 34.4 |
| 50 | 27 | 75.7 | 3.46 | Field | West Northfield SD 31 | Northbrook | Cook | 3.8 |
| 51 |
| 75.44 |
| Dunlap Valley Middle | Dunlap CUSD 323 | Dunlap | Peoria | 8 |
| 52 | -9 | 75.39 | 1.77 | Lake Bluff Middle | Lake Bluff ESD 65 | Lake Bluff | Lake | 10.7 |
| 53 | 16 | 75.28 | -1.81 | Haines Middle | St. Charles CUSD 303 | St. Charles | Kane | 2.5 |
| 54 | -17 | 75.23 | 2.82 | Haven Middle | Evanston CCSD 65 | Evanston | Cook | 33.5 |
| 55 | -32 | 74.96 | 3.4 | Winfield Central | Winfield SD 34 | Winfield | DuPage | 11.6 |
| 56 | 8 | 74.94 | -0.24 | Plum Grove Jr. H.S. | Palatine CCSD 15 | Rolling Meadows | Cook | 7.4 |
| 57 | 15 | 74.59 | -1.26 | Wood Oaks Jr. H.S. | Northbrook ESD 27 | Northbrook | Cook | 2.8 |
| 58 | 13 | 74.38 | -1.22 | Madison Jr. H.S. | Naperville CUSD 203 | Naperville | DuPage | 4.9 |
| 59 | -25 | 74.32 | 2.59 | Thomas Middle | Arlington Heights SD 25 | Arlington Heights | Cook | 6.7 |
| 60 | -30 | 74.27 | 2.82 | Lincoln Middle | Mount Prospect SD 57 | Mt. Prospect | Cook | 7.2 |
| 61 | -3 | 73.81 | 0.49 | Margaret Mead Jr. H.S. | Schaumburg CCSD 54 | Elk Grove Village | Cook | 4.1 |
| 62 | 13 | 73.78 | -1.34 | Prairie Crossing Chart | Prairie Crossing Chart School | Grayslake | Lake | 1.4 |
| 63 | -10 | 73.73 | 1.43 | Northbrook Jr. H.S. | Northbrook SD 28 | Northbrook | Cook | 1.8 |
| 63 | 5 | 73.73 | -0.16 | Scullen Middle | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Naperville | DuPage | 4 |
| 65 | -70 | 73.67 | 5.59 | Nichols Middle | Evanston CCSD 65 | Evanston | Cook | 37.3 |
| 66 | -34 | 73.62 | 3.19 | Elm Place | North Shore SD 112 | Highland Park | Lake | 9.1 |
| 67 | 23 | 73.35 | -2.3 | Caruso Middle | Deerfield SD 109 | Deerfield | Lake | 0 |
| 68 | 22 | 73.02 | -2.42 | Barrington Mid Sta | Barrington CUSD 220 | Barrington | Lake | 14.1 |
| 69 | -10 | 72.96 | 0.78 | Geneva Middle South | Geneva CUSD 304 | Geneva | Kane | 3.1 |
| 69 | 14 | 72.96 | -1.09 | Clifford Crone Middle | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Naperville | DuPage | 0.5 |
| 69 | 17 | 72.96 | -1.9 | Washington Jr. H.S. | Naperville CUSD 203 | Naperville | DuPage | 10.4 |
| 72 | 50 | 72.82 | -7.96 | Morgan Park H.S.* | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 69.2 |
| 73 | 6 | 72.8 | -0.17 | Barrington Mid Prairie | Barrington CUSD 220 | Barrington | Lake | 15 |
| 74 | -21 | 72.74 | 2.03 | Macomb Jr. H.S. | Macomb CUSD 185 | Macomb | McDonough | 29.6 |
| 75 | 10 | 72.69 | -0.55 | Cass Jr. H.S. | Cass SD 63 | Darien | DuPage | 5.2 |
| 76 | -24 | 72.41 | 1.98 | Burley Elementary | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 31.6 |
| 77 | -8 | 72.35 | 0.67 | Crescent City Grade | Crescent Iroquois CUSD 249 | Crescent City | Iroquois | 30.7 |
| 78 | 5 | 72.18 | -0.11 | Millburn West | Millburn CCSD 24 | Lindenhurst | Lake | 3.3 |
| 79 | 22 | 72.13 | -1.82 | O.A. Thorp Magnet | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 48.9 |
| 79 | 6 | 72.13 | -0.17 | Blaine Elementary | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 24.5 |
| 81 | -2 | 72.07 | 0.22 | Wildwood | Chicago SD 299 | Chicago | Cook | 25.9 |
| 82 | 19 | 72.02 | -1.38 | Lincoln Jr. H.S. | Naperville CUSD 203 | Naperville | DuPage | 7.2 |
| 83 | -138 | 71.82 | 9.39 | Jasper Elementary | Jasper CCSD 17 | Fairfield | Wayne | 41.4 |
| 84 | -20 | 71.57 | 1.26 | Springman Middle | Glenview CCSD 34 | Glenview | Cook | 15.6 |
| 85 | 15 | 71.51 | -0.95 | Monroe Middle | CUSD 200 | Wheaton | DuPage | 19.9 |
| 86 | 20 | 71.34 | -1.79 | South Middle | Arlington Heights SD 25 | Arlington Heights | Cook | 7.9 |
| 87 | -21 | 71.28 | 1.26 | Thayer J. Hill Middle | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Naperville | DuPage | 11.6 |
| 87 | 20 | 71.28 | -1.68 | Century Junior H.S. | Orland SD 135 | Orland Park | Cook | 5.2 |
| 89 | -47 | 71.06 | 3.03 | Attea Middle | Glenview CCSD 34 | Glenview | Cook | 14.1 |
| 90 | -87 | 70.83 | 6.27 | Park View Elem. | Morton Grove SD 70 | Morton Grove | Cook | 10.8 |
| 91 | -37 | 70.6 | 1.98 | Millstadt Consolidated | Millstadt CCSD 160 | Millstadt | St. Clair | 13.9 |
| 92 | -38 | 70.54 | 2.01 | Sundling Jr. H.S. | Palatine CCSD 15 | Palatine | Cook | 18.7 |
| 93 | 0 | 70.48 | -0.46 | Highlands Middle | LaGrange Highlands SD 106 | LaGrange Hlands | Cook | 1.8 |
| 93 | -17 | 70.48 | 0.52 | L.J. Hauser Jr. H.S. | Riverside SD 96 | Riverside | Cook | 10.9 |
| 95 | 41 | 70.43 | -3.68 | Hawthorn Middle | Hawthorn CCSD 73 | Vernon Hills | Lake | 17.3 |
| 96 | -23 | 70.37 | 1.16 | Geneva Middle North | Geneva CUSD 304 | Geneva | Kane | 4.6 |
| 97 | 24 | 70.31 | -1.99 | Lincoln Magnet | Springfield SD 186 | Springfield | Sangamon | 36.5 |
| 97 | 2 | 70.31 | -0.4 | Franklin Middle | CUSD 200 | Wheaton | DuPage | 22.4 |
| 99 | -14 | 70.25 | 0.46 | Bryan Middle | Elmhurst SD 205 | Elmhurst | DuPage | 5 |
| 99 | -6 | 70.25 | 0.06 | Oak Grove Elem | Oak Grove SD 68 | Green Oaks | Lake | 0.3 |
| 99 | 38 | 70.25 | -3.37 | Millburn Central | Millburn CCSD 24 | Old Mill Creek | Lake | 3.4 |
** NOTE: The second column -- 2008-2009 rank change -- shows how much a school went up or down in the rankings. For example, among elementary schools, Chicago's Skinner Classical is No. 6 this year and was No. 14 last year, so it's 08-09 rank change is 8. River Forest's Lincoln is No. 8 this year and was No. 6 last year, so it's 08-09 rank change is -2.