25 Best High Schools in the Midwest


We used six indicators culled from school surveys to compare public high schools in the U.S., with graduation and college acceptance rates weighed most heavily. Other criteria included college-level courses and exams, as well as SAT and ACT scores. Here are the top schools in the Midwest. See full results here.

Evansville, Indiana
Overall Rank: 6
FINAL SCORE: 9.1601
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%
AP/IB Tests per student: 2.95
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78
SAT: 1822
ACT: 27.6
Signature School

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Overall Rank: 17
FINAL SCORE: 8.5485
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.39
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.97
SAT: 1946
ACT: 29.9
International Academy

Lake Forest, Illinois
Overall Rank: 52
FINAL SCORE: 7.8276
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.7%
College Bound: 97%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 29%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.47
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.95
SAT: 1940
ACT: 25.9
Lake Forest High School

Edina, Minnesota
Overall Rank: 53
FINAL SCORE: 7.8237
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.4%
College Bound: 96%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 62%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.18
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.58
SAT: 1873
ACT: 26.2
Courtesy of Edina High School

Ottawa Hills, Ohio
Overall Rank: 58
FINAL SCORE: 7.7707
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 24%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.50
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.82
SAT: 1765
ACT: 26.3
Ottawa Hills High School

Dublin, Ohio
Overall Rank: 60
FINAL SCORE: 7.7569
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.3%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 72%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.05
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74
SAT: 1767
ACT: 26.4
Dublin Jerome High School

St. Louis, Missouri
Overall Rank: 63
FINAL SCORE: 7.7291
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.0%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 49%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.78
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.82
SAT: 1920
ACT: 26.1
Ladue Horton Watkins High School

St. Louis, Missouri
Overall Rank: 79
FINAL SCORE: 7.6129
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 50%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.98
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.25
SAT: N/A
ACT: 26.3
Metro Academic & Classical High

Kansas City, Kansas
Overall Rank: 95
FINAL SCORE: 7.4887
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 99%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 44%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.75
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.60
SAT: N/A
ACT: 21.7
Sumner Academy of Arts and Science

Mequon, Wisconsin
Overall Rank: 98
FINAL SCORE: 7.4684
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.1%
College Bound: 94%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 31%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.62
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86
SAT: 1871
ACT: 25
Homestead High School

Cincinnati, Ohio
Overall Rank: 102
FINAL SCORE: 7.4443
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 97.2%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.19
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.89
SAT: 1763
ACT: 26
Indian Hill High School

Novi, Michigan
Overall Rank: 107
FINAL SCORE: 7.4348
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 97.6%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 60%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.58
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.85
SAT: 1848
ACT: 23.7
Novi High School

Kirkwood, Missouri
Overall Rank: 108
FINAL SCORE: 7.4204
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 93%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 27%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.47
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.84
SAT: 1770
ACT: 23.9
Kirkwood High School

Deerfield, Illinois
Overall Rank: 111
FINAL SCORE: 7.4062
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 97.0%
College Bound: 99%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 29%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.60
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91
SAT: 1930
ACT: 27
Deerfield High School

Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Overall Rank: 114
FINAL SCORE: 7.3967
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.5%
College Bound: 94%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 36%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.84
SAT: 1721
ACT: 25.4
Chagrin Falls High School

Overland Park, Kansas
Overall Rank: 120
FINAL SCORE: 7.3552
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 97.5%
College Bound: 91%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 72%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.50
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.77
SAT: 1915
ACT: 25.3
Blue Valley High School

Eagan, Minnesota
Overall Rank: 124
FINAL SCORE: 7.3414
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.4%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 25%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.39
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91
SAT: 1883
ACT: 25.4
Eagan High School

Decorah, Iowa
Overall Rank: 126
FINAL SCORE: 7.3406
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 26%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.31
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.72
SAT: N/A
ACT: 24.6
Decorah High School

Southfield, Michigan
Overall Rank: 128
FINAL SCORE: 7.3150
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.26
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.42
SAT: N/A
ACT: 22.4
University High School Academy

Northbrook, Illinois
Overall Rank: 132
FINAL SCORE: 7.2764
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.0%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 26%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.52
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.90
SAT: 1889
ACT: 20.6

Palatine, Illinois
Overall Rank: 137
FINAL SCORE: 7.2544
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 97.0%
College Bound: 96%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 37%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.62
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.90
SAT: 1900
ACT: 25
William Fremd High School

Brookfield, Wisconsin
Overall Rank: 143
FINAL SCORE: 7.2057
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.8%
College Bound: 90%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 41%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.58
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.70
SAT: 1947
ACT: 25.3
Brookfield East High School

Kansas City, Missouri
Overall Rank: 149
FINAL SCORE: 7.1654
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 98.5%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.75
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.54
SAT: N/A
ACT: 22.4
Lincoln College Preparatory Academy

Chicago, Illinois
Overall Rank: 151
FINAL SCORE: 7.1509
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 97.2%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.41
SAT: 1899
ACT: 27.8
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Upper Arlington, Ohio
Overall Rank: 152
FINAL SCORE: 7.1461
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 97.0%
College Bound: 94%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.00
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.76
SAT: 1707
ACT: 25
Upper Arlington High School
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.