#T1Clarendon Hills
DuPage County · 8,681 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #1 of 767 in IL
Clarendon Hills, #1 on this list · Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0Illinois rankings · Schools
Towns with the best schools in Illinois
Clarendon Hills, Glencoe and Hinsdale and 7 more share first place on schools among Illinois’ 768 towns of 2,500+; 224 of the 768 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work
#T1A+
#T1Glencoe
Cook County · 8,724 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #11 of 767 in IL
#T1Hinsdale
DuPage County · 17,573 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #5 of 767 in IL
All 768 towns
Schools grade, best first (graded within Illinois). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 764 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
768 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
T13Libertyville TownshipLake County · 54,621 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A+ · #40 of 767
T20Teutopolis TownshipEffingham County · 2,818 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A+ · #3 of 767
T20West Deerfield TownshipLake County · 32,111 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A · #85 of 767
T29Washington TownshipTazewell County · 24,235 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A+ · #43 of 767
T48St. Joseph TownshipChampaign County · 5,436 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #288 of 767
T61Naperville TownshipDuPage County · 107,908 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #115 of 767
T61Rockton TownshipWinnebago County · 16,144 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #320 of 767
T61Scott AFBunincorporated, St. Clair County · 3,957 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #222 of 767
T76Downers Grove TownshipDuPage County · 149,599 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #82 of 767
T98Frankfort Squareunincorporated, Will County · 9,560 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #255 of 767
T98Prairie Du Long TownshipSt. Clair County · 2,549 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #267 of 767
T98Shiloh Valley TownshipSt. Clair County · 12,737 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #170 of 767
T120West Point TownshipStephenson County · 3,095 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #125 of 767
T142Fancy Creek TownshipSangamon County · 5,806 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #208 of 767
T142Mahomet TownshipChampaign County · 14,687 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #332 of 767
T152Bristol TownshipKendall County · 36,464 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #364 of 767
T152Kendall TownshipKendall County · 10,154 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #308 of 767
T152O'Fallon TownshipSt. Clair County · 26,976 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #159 of 767
T165Norwood Park TownshipCook County · 26,584 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #133 of 767
T165West Galena TownshipJo Daviess County · 3,143 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #89 of 767
T180Edwardsville TownshipMadison County · 40,258 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #248 of 767
T180Grafton TownshipMcHenry County · 58,301 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #260 of 767
T180Holiday Shoresunincorporated, Madison County · 2,782 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #423 of 767
T180Sugar Creek TownshipClinton County · 6,723 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #81 of 767
T210Fort Russell TownshipMadison County · 9,158 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #306 of 767
T210Greenwood TownshipMcHenry County · 15,270 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #273 of 767
T210Mount Zion TownshipMacon County · 7,018 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #281 of 767
T225Bloomingdale TownshipDuPage County · 111,039 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #265 of 767
T225Hickory Point TownshipMacon County · 17,474 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #500 of 767
T225Lake in the HillsMcHenry County · 28,590 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #180 of 767
T225Long Creek TownshipMacon County · 10,139 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #399 of 767
T225Mount Morris TownshipOgle County · 3,639 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #453 of 767
T225Oregon-Nashua TownshipOgle County · 4,748 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #341 of 767
T225Sugar Loaf TownshipSt. Clair County · 6,601 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #245 of 767
T238El Paso TownshipWoodford County · 3,376 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #244 of 767
T238Limestone TownshipKankakee County · 4,961 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C · #583 of 767
T245Boulder Hillunincorporated, Kendall County · 8,989 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #551 of 767
T245Lake Villa TownshipLake County · 40,029 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #334 of 767
T245Winfield TownshipDuPage County · 46,284 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #347 of 767
T252Douglas TownshipEffingham County · 12,693 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A · #104 of 767
T252East Lincoln TownshipLogan County · 7,589 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #393 of 767
T252Na-Au-Say TownshipKendall County · 11,233 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #440 of 767
T252Sycamore TownshipDeKalb County · 15,039 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #227 of 767
T252Watson TownshipEffingham County · 3,176 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #278 of 767
T267Algonquin TownshipMcHenry County · 89,435 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #238 of 767
T267Chillicothe TownshipPeoria County · 8,139 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A · #123 of 767
T267Mackinaw TownshipTazewell County · 4,231 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A · #150 of 767
T287Millstadt TownshipSt. Clair County · 6,490 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #363 of 767
T287South Wheatland TownshipMacon County · 3,859 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #420 of 767
T294Bloomington TownshipMcLean County · 2,629 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #331 of 767
T294Looking Glass TownshipClinton County · 6,427 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #242 of 767
T294West Lincoln TownshipLogan County · 7,252 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #338 of 767
T305Nokomis TownshipMontgomery County · 2,751 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #414 of 767
T305Pecatonica TownshipWinnebago County · 4,115 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #374 of 767
T305Stookey TownshipSt. Clair County · 8,795 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #226 of 767
T312Aux Sable TownshipGrundy County · 15,963 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #437 of 767
T312Fairmontunincorporated, Will County · 2,617 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #547 of 767
T312Fulton TownshipWhiteside County · 4,233 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #487 of 767
T312Grandwood Parkunincorporated, Lake County · 5,262 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #316 of 767
T312Lake Holidayunincorporated, LaSalle County · 5,641 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #418 of 767
T312Montebello TownshipHancock County · 3,189 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #528 of 767
T312North Litchfield TownshipMontgomery County · 4,824 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #283 of 767
T312Northville TownshipLaSalle County · 7,316 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #433 of 767
T312South Litchfield TownshipMontgomery County · 3,222 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #447 of 767
T312Winnebago TownshipWinnebago County · 4,965 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #426 of 767
T331Blackberry TownshipKane County · 17,903 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #259 of 767
T331Bowling TownshipRock Island County · 3,366 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #463 of 767
T331Spring Bay TownshipWoodford County · 2,529 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #415 of 767
T331Sugar Grove TownshipKane County · 21,157 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #380 of 767
T349Caseyville TownshipSt. Clair County · 34,825 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #342 of 767
T355Newell TownshipVermilion County · 13,326 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #626 of 767
T363Gages Lakeunincorporated, Lake County · 10,819 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #310 of 767
T370Chebanse TownshipIroquois County · 2,782 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #473 of 767
T370Dunleith TownshipJo Daviess County · 3,487 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #375 of 767
T370Rochester TownshipSangamon County · 5,700 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #330 of 767
T383Bourbonnais TownshipKankakee County · 38,541 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #523 of 767
T383Cincinnati TownshipTazewell County · 8,825 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #517 of 767
T383Groveland TownshipTazewell County · 18,418 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #416 of 767
T383Rosewood Heightsunincorporated, Madison County · 4,229 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A · #111 of 767
T400Bloomington City TownshipMcLean County · 78,804 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #188 of 767
T400Brighton TownshipMacoupin County · 3,826 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #216 of 767
T400Robinson TownshipCrawford County · 9,399 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #243 of 767
T400Squaw Grove TownshipDeKalb County · 2,717 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #565 of 767
T400Wood River TownshipMadison County · 29,456 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #355 of 767
T421McLeansboro TownshipHamilton County · 3,611 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #454 of 767
T421Pistakee Highlandsunincorporated, McHenry County · 3,374 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #392 of 767
T429Mount Sterling TownshipBrown County · 4,448 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #396 of 767
T434Indian Grove TownshipLivingston County · 4,111 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall A− · #187 of 767
T434Sullivan TownshipMoultrie County · 6,229 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #285 of 767
T443Champaign TownshipChampaign County · 11,377 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall A− · #280 of 767
T443Summit TownshipEffingham County · 3,723 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #305 of 767
T452Fairview HeightsSt. Clair County · 16,175 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #568 of 767
T452Otter Creek TownshipLaSalle County · 2,623 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #529 of 767
T460Locust TownshipChristian County · 3,144 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #461 of 767
T467Macomb City TownshipMcDonough County · 14,530 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #581 of 767
T473Carthage TownshipHancock County · 2,848 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall A− · #179 of 767
T473Coloma TownshipWhiteside County · 10,277 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #545 of 767
T473Little Rock TownshipKendall County · 14,921 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #569 of 767
T473Mount Pleasant TownshipWhiteside County · 4,638 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall A− · #221 of 767
T481East Eldorado TownshipSaline County · 5,182 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #588 of 767
T481Elm Grove TownshipTazewell County · 2,938 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #311 of 767
T481McHenry TownshipMcHenry County · 48,110 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #452 of 767
T488Cortland TownshipDeKalb County · 11,644 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #460 of 767
T500Collinsville TownshipMadison County · 35,276 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #407 of 767
T500Wethersfield TownshipHenry County · 3,695 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #389 of 767
T500Yellowhead TownshipKankakee County · 2,549 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #642 of 767
T510Moline TownshipRock Island County · 22,531 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B− · #490 of 767
T510St. Clair TownshipSt. Clair County · 35,372 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B− · #482 of 767
T524Shiloh TownshipJefferson County · 6,449 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #678 of 767
T524South Ottawa TownshipLaSalle County · 8,299 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #648 of 767
T527Limestone TownshipPeoria County · 18,035 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #367 of 767
T553Champaign City TownshipChampaign County · 91,195 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B− · #504 of 767
T553Middleport TownshipIroquois County · 3,603 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #727 of 767
T577Mount Olive TownshipMacoupin County · 3,019 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #563 of 767
T577Murphysboro TownshipJackson County · 9,333 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #717 of 767
T577South Moline TownshipRock Island County · 36,062 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #524 of 767
T577Spring Garden TownshipJefferson County · 2,522 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C · #622 of 767
T587Clear Lake TownshipSangamon County · 8,248 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B · #370 of 767
T587Fondulac TownshipTazewell County · 12,154 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B− · #457 of 767
T597Brookside TownshipClinton County · 4,522 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #657 of 767
T597Candlewick Lakeunincorporated, Boone County · 5,448 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #685 of 767
T597Long Lakeunincorporated, Lake County · 3,307 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #521 of 767
T597Oakwood TownshipVermilion County · 3,048 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #679 of 767
T605Bunker Hill TownshipMacoupin County · 3,086 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B · #383 of 767
T618Canteen TownshipSt. Clair County · 7,714 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C− · #637 of 767
T622Ludlow TownshipChampaign County · 4,076 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C− · #665 of 767
T628Richwoods TownshipPeoria County · 5,771 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall A− · #246 of 767
T639Farmington TownshipFulton County · 3,094 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #592 of 767
T639Harrisburg TownshipSaline County · 9,656 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #710 of 767
T639South Chicago HeightsCook County · 3,884 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #688 of 767
T656Urbana TownshipChampaign County · 7,450 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall B− · #493 of 767
T663Blackhawk TownshipRock Island County · 9,423 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall B− · #494 of 767
T663Galesburg City TownshipKnox County · 28,581 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #713 of 767
T673Capital TownshipSangamon County · 111,143 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #580 of 767
T673Peoria City TownshipPeoria County · 95,876 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #623 of 767
T673Woodside TownshipSangamon County · 11,300 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall B · #372 of 767
T691Cunningham TownshipChampaign County · 39,719 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #567 of 767
T691Ingalls Parkunincorporated, Will County · 3,015 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #711 of 767
T691Ridgewoodunincorporated, Will County · 2,795 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #748 of 767
T702Georgetown TownshipVermilion County · 7,100 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C− · #673 of 767
T709Hampton TownshipRock Island County · 21,050 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C− · #647 of 767
T713Rock Island TownshipRock Island County · 15,632 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C− · #671 of 767
T713South Rock Island TownshipRock Island County · 18,056 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall C · #603 of 767
T737Frankfort TownshipFranklin County · 6,265 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #744 of 767
T750Centreville TownshipSt. Clair County · 19,067 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #721 of 767
T750Cherry Valley TownshipWinnebago County · 19,268 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #720 of 767
T762Springfield TownshipSangamon County · 5,485 peopleD−graded within the state·Overall C · #609 of 767
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Illinois town has the best schools?
Clarendon Hills (DuPage County), Glencoe (Cook County), Hinsdale (DuPage County), Lincolnshire (Lake County) and New Trier Township (Cook County) and 5 more share first place on schools among 768 towns. Schools are compared within Illinois, so the letter is a state grade.
How are these towns ranked?
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (768 in Illinois). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Illinois page.
Go deeper
All Illinois rankings →More Illinois lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live767 towns · #1 Clarendon HillsBest small towns410 towns · #1 Clarendon HillsMost affordable towns768 towns · #1 Gillespie and Mount Olive TownshipSafest towns339 towns · #1 Campton HillsHealthiest towns767 towns · #1 Glencoe and Western Springs and WinnetkaBest towns for jobs & income768 towns · #1 RiverwoodsMost walkable towns768 towns · #1 EvanstonTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk768 towns · #1 North ChicagoBest towns for the outdoors768 towns · #1 Lake BluffMost historic towns768 towns · #1 West Galena TownshipTowns with the most civic life754 towns · #1 Carthage TownshipTowns with the least snow767 towns · #1 BloomingtonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns767 towns · #1 BartlettDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters713 towns · #1 MetropolisDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers713 towns · #1 MetropolisDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers713 towns · #1 Winthrop HarborDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes768 towns · #1 Hinsdale and 3 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes708 towns · #1 Park CityDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns764 towns · #1 Wonder LakeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries260 towns · #1 MarshallDescribed, no letters
Other states