Naperville area high schools are once again ranked among the top in Illinois, according to the latest rankings, released Aug. 19, by U.S. News and World Report.
All five high schools within Indian Prairie School District 204 and Naperville School District 203 ranked within the top 50 in the state. Nearby, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora ranked 6th in Illinois and 120th in the nation.
Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, part of District 204, ranked 12th in Illinois and 340th in the nation.
U.S. News and World Report noted that about 67% of students at the school take Advanced Placement coursework and exams. Its 96% graduation rate is well above the state median, the report said.
“It starts in kindergarten,” said Nicole Howard, District 204’s assistant superintendent for secondary education. “It’s work that is being done as soon as the students enter the district. Being a unit district we have the benefit of building upon all of those strengths and really looking at the continuity of rigorous and high quality instruction.”
In addition to maintaining a strong curriculum, District 204 high schools focus on a sense of belonging, relationships and mental health, Howard said. There’s a heavy emphasis on improving the freshman experience and helping middle school students transition to high school so they can find their voice and advocate for themselves sooner, Howard said.
District 204 is always looking at its data and ways to improve, she said.
U.S. News and World Report ranked nearly 18,000 public high schools out of more than 24,000 reviewed. The report said 679 Illinois schools made its rankings.
Schools were ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college, according to the report. Its 2025-26 best high school rankings included students who have demonstrated outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores on college-level exams and graduated in high proportions, the report said.
In District 203, Naperville Central High School ranked 22nd among Illinois high schools and 546th nationally.
“I certainly appreciate the validation of the work that we do at Naperville Central,” principal Jackie Thornton said. “I walk in every day feeling like we are providing a really outstanding high school experience for kids both in and out of the classroom.”
The rankings look at measurable academic outcomes, which are important, but Thornton said she likes to focus on the people.
“Not only do we have great kids and we have supportive families, but we have outstanding educators who are dedicated to continuous improvement and making sure that the kids in front of them are learning and thriving,” Thornton said. “All of that is on a foundation of what makes District 203 special. We have curriculum that is rigorous and aligned with state standards. We have a continuous improvement process to make sure that curriculum remains relevant.”
She said it’s no surprise that Naperville Central is neck-and-neck in the rankings with Naperville North High School.
Naperville North, which is also in District 203, was named 26th in Illinois and 671st in the national rankings.
Principal Jay Wachtel said Naperville North has courses for every student’s interests, including career pathways, Advanced Placement courses and honors and weighted classes. Teachers recommend Advanced Placement courses to students who have potential to take the higher level classes, and there’s a summer program offered to help students hit the ground running, he said.
“We definitely have curriculum that can challenge kids at every level,” Wachtel said.
Naperville North also has a school improvement plan to focus not only on academic success but belonging, Wachtel said.
“We have incredible teachers,” Wachtel said. “Our community is great. Our students are amazing. They come to us ready to learn and well-equipped to learn.”
In Indian Prairie School District 204, Metea Valley High School, Aurora, ranked 32nd in Illinois and 774th nationally while Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, ranked 49th in Illinois and 1,229th nationally.
Howard, with District 204, noted that in 2021 about 70% of Metea Valley students who took Advanced Placement courses passed the exams and earned college credit. That jumped to about 90% of students earning college credit this year.
She said the three district high schools have strong extracurricular programs, and many sports teams go to state competitions.
“We work really hard,” Howard said. “So when we see that work being recognized outside our school system, we are elated. It is reinforcing what we already believe to be true about education. If you do things that matter, if you work on relationship building with kids, if you work on their sense of belonging, if you bring in real world context into the classroom, if you push complex thinking and resilience, great things happen.”
Last year, Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley high schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Those honors were only given to 356 schools nationwide.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
