This Chicago school was just named the best elementary school in all of Illinois

When it comes to Chicago schools, the city's education system is world-class, even on the kindergarten level. Need proof? U.S. News & World Report has released its 2027 rankings for the best elementary schools in each state across the nation, and Chicago Public Schools' Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center claimed the top spot in all of Illinois. Located in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood, the public magnet school earned the numbe-one ranking based on high reading and math performance and a low student-to-teacher ratio.

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The annual report evaluates K-8 public schools at state and district levels. To determine the top-performing institutions, U.S. News used a weighted formula divided equally into four key factors: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half of the total score reflects raw state assessment results in reading, language arts and math, while the other half measures performance in the context of student socioeconomic demographics.

Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center distinguished itself with academic results far surpassing local and state averages. State assessment data reveals that 97% of Edison students scored at or above proficient in reading, and 93% achieved proficiency in math. In comparison, Chicago Public Schools District 299 reported 40% reading proficiency and 32% math proficiency. Across Illinois overall, state averages stood at 45% for reading and 36% for math.

Serving approximately 265 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, Edison requires applicants to pass a selective entry test to qualify for admission. The school boasts a tight-knit learning environment with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, supported by 20 full-time equivalent teachers and a full-time school counselor. Demographically, the student body is balanced equally at 50% female and 50% male, with 9% of students identifying as economically disadvantaged.

Chicago-area schools held strong positions in the state rankings overall, with five schools in the top ten. CPS's Skinner North Elementary School on Chicago's Near North Side secured the number two spot in Illinois, followed by Thurgood Marshall Elementary in Rockford at number three. Find the full report and rankings here.

Top 10 elementary schools in Illinois, according to U.S. News & World Report:

1. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center—Chicago
2. Skinner North Elementary—Chicago
3. Thurgood Marshall Elementary—Rockford
4. Keller Elementary Gifted Magnet School—Chicago
5. Meadow Glens Elementary School—Naperville
6. Elm Elementary School—Burr Ridge
7. Ellsworth Elementary School—Naperville
8. Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy—Chicago
9. Decatur Classical Elementary School—Chicago
10. Hollywood Elementary School—Brookfield