Best Public Schools in Evanston, IL

Summary:

The city of Evanston, Illinois is home to a diverse school district that includes 15 schools, comprising 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high school. The district exhibits a mix of high-performing and more challenged schools, with several standout institutions setting the benchmark for academic excellence.

Evanston Township High School stands out as the top-performing school in the district, consistently ranking among the top 50 high schools in Illinois and maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school boasts impressive graduation rates (93.2%) and test scores that exceed state averages. Among the middle schools, Haven Middle School and Nichols Middle School also perform well, ranking in the top 25% of Illinois middle schools. At the elementary level, Dewey Elementary School, Kingsley Elementary School, and Orrington Elementary School emerge as the top performers, consistently ranking in the top 15% of Illinois elementary schools.

The district exhibits a wide range of free/reduced lunch rates, indicating significant socioeconomic diversity among the student populations. Per-student spending also varies, with the higher-spending schools generally demonstrating stronger academic outcomes. Chronic absenteeism rates, while varying across schools, are a concern, with several schools exceeding 20%. Overall, the Evanston school district offers a mix of high-performing and more challenged schools, with the top-tier institutions setting a benchmark for academic excellence and the district working to address equity and resource allocation across the schools.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISA Science (2024)	IAR English Language Arts (2024)							IAR Mathematics (2024)							SAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT English Language Arts (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science All Grades	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Chute Middle School	Public	6-8	1400 Oakton St	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 859-8601	581	58	10.0	53.4%	167 (28.7%)	173 (29.8%)	166 (28.6%)	27 (4.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (7.7%)	70.3	340^th of 1363 public middle schools	75.1%		59.6	447^th of 1367 public middle schools	67.3%	107	55.1				62.0	56.3	56.7	58.6				29.4	32.9	30.3	30.8			98.4	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.1	98.3	98.6	96.2	$29,515	$299	$29,216
Dawes Elementary School	Public	K-5	440 Dodge Ave	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 905-3401	321	31	10.2	51.7%	92 (28.7%)	84 (26.2%)	94 (29.3%)	8 (2.5%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	37 (11.5%)	80	363^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	82.4%		63	693^rd of 2077 public elementary schools	66.6%	330	48.1	57.2	56.6	49.1				54.1	48.9	49.0	32.7				43.3			97.7	98.3	98.3	98.3	100.0	97.0	97.7		$27,026	$220	$26,806
Dewey Elementary School	Public	K-5	1551 Wesley Ave	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 859-8141	345	33	10.5	32.2%	140 (40.6%)	50 (14.5%)	83 (24.1%)	29 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (12.2%)	85.9	253^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	87.8%		88.5	204^th of 2077 public elementary schools	90.2%	49	80.4	40.9	60.0	60.8				52.4	63.1	44.6	54.3				54.2			99.1	98.5	98.5	98.5	100.0	98.2	99.1		$27,615	$74	$27,541
Rice Childrens Center	Public	1-8	1101 Washington St	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 424-2450	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																		100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	50.0
Haven Middle School	Public	6-8	2417 Prairie Ave	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 859-8200	695	66	10.5	27.6%	382 (55.0%)	113 (16.3%)	106 (15.3%)	21 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (10.2%)	81.1	216^th of 1363 public middle schools	84.2%		75.5	270^th of 1367 public middle schools	80.2%	54	60.5				67.9	45.9	65.0	60.0				45.4	38.8	51.0	45.4			99.1	99.0	99.0	99.0	98.8	99.0	99.3	95.6	$25,263	$82	$25,181
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-5	910 Forest Ave	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 905-3501	411	38	10.9	32.6%	207 (50.4%)	64 (15.6%)	53 (12.9%)	27 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (14.4%)	81.9	323^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	84.4%		84	290^th of 2077 public elementary schools	86.0%	33	73.9	50.7	57.4	53.6				53.7	53.8	32.1	56.5				48.7			97.9	97.4	97.4	97.4	100.0	96.8	97.1		$26,374	$74	$26,299
Lincolnwood Elementary School	Public	K-5	2600 Colfax St	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 859-8881	320	27	11.8	30.0%	171 (53.4%)	87 (27.2%)	28 (8.8%)	6 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.8%)	87.7	226^th of 2067 public elementary schools	89.1%		86.7	245^th of 2077 public elementary schools	88.2%	19	71.9	48.9	57.5	55.2				53.6	63.1	55.3	51.7				56.6			95.8	96.1	96.1	96.1	100.0	95.8	95.5		$27,494	$74	$27,420
Dr ML King Junior Literary&Fine Arts	Public	K-8	2424 Lake St	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 859-8500	369	53	6.9	50.7%	98 (26.6%)	144 (39.0%)	56 (15.2%)	14 (3.8%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	51 (13.8%)	66.3	624^th of 2067 public elementary schools	69.8%		78.8	387^th of 2077 public elementary schools	81.4%	237	48.2	46.9	28.6	48.8	60.5	77.2	50.0	50.6	40.6	34.7	37.3	23.7	57.2	12.5	33.8			98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	99.5	98.1	98.1	31.5	$26,785	$281	$26,504
Nichols Middle School	Public	6-8	800 Greenleaf St	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 859-8661	650	66	9.9	34.8%	301 (46.3%)	133 (20.5%)	134 (20.6%)	19 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (9.2%)	82.1	210^th of 1363 public middle schools	84.6%		80.9	214^th of 1367 public middle schools	84.3%	4	72.1				63.3	52.9	59.8	58.6				42.3	51.5	46.6	46.9			98.6	98.7	98.7	98.7	98.6	98.2	98.9	97.9	$26,331	$74	$26,257
Oakton Elementary School	Public	K-5	436 Ridge Ave	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 859-8801	393	38	10.3	60.8%	90 (22.9%)	174 (44.3%)	90 (22.9%)	11 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.9%)	52.6	873^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	57.8%		48.3	991^st of 2077 public elementary schools	52.3%	118	44.2	37.5	46.6	18.9				35.7	35.7	21.9	28.3				28.0			96.9	97.2	97.2	97.2	100.0	97.2	96.6		$28,252	$380	$27,872
Orrington Elementary School	Public	K-5	2636 Orrington Ave	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 859-8781	250	27	9.2	14.8%	147 (58.8%)	30 (12.0%)	15 (6.0%)	26 (10.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.8%)	82.3	314^th of 2067 public elementary schools	84.8%		92	145^th of 2077 public elementary schools	93.0%	169	84.3	33.3	65.3	68.6				58.6	39.4	49.0	70.6				54.9			98.8	98.0	98.0	98.0	99.6	98.0	97.6		$27,706	$74	$27,631
Walker Elementary School	Public	K-5	3601 Church St	Evanston	60203	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 859-8331	394	32	12.5	37.1%	148 (37.6%)	81 (20.6%)	59 (15.0%)	49 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	56 (14.2%)	75.9	458^th of 2067 public elementary schools	77.8%		83.7	297^th of 2077 public elementary schools	85.7%	161	70.8	47.8	34.3	61.1				47.4	57.9	27.1	59.2				47.6			99.0	99.0	99.0	99.0	100.0	98.5	98.7		$24,298	$219	$24,079
Washington Elementary School	Public	K-5	914 Ashland Ave	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 905-4901	448	39	11.4	40.4%	188 (42.0%)	62 (13.8%)	153 (34.2%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (8.0%)	75.2	475^th of 2067 public elementary schools	77.0%		76.7	432^nd of 2077 public elementary schools	79.2%	43	72.0	35.7	45.8	56.1				46.4	47.1	37.5	49.4				44.9			98.4	99.3	99.3	99.3	100.0	99.3	98.4		$25,828	$221	$25,607
Willard Elementary School	Public	K-5	2700 Hurd Ave	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 905-3601	367	34	10.8	25.6%	204 (55.6%)	42 (11.4%)	81 (22.1%)	8 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.4%)	79	389^th of 2067 public elementary schools	81.2%		82.1	333^rd of 2077 public elementary schools	84.0%	56	61.8	50.9	46.5	48.5				48.4	51.0	40.8	48.5				46.4			99.7	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.5	99.7		$25,445	$74	$25,371
Kingsley Elementary School	Public	K-5	2300 Green Bay Rd	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston CCSD 65	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(847) 859-8401	340	29	11.9	37.6%	181 (53.2%)	93 (27.4%)	32 (9.4%)	8 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.6%)	83.7	292^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	85.9%		80.2	368^th of 2077 public elementary schools	82.3%	76	57.7	55.5	63.0	38.9				51.6	63.0	58.7	40.8				53.5			96.9	97.8	97.8	97.8	100.0	98.1	97.2		$24,985	$74	$24,911
Evanston Township High School	Public	9-12	1600 Dodge Ave	Evanston	60201	Cook County	Evanston Township HSD 202	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(847) 424-7200	3,691	270	13.6	35.6%	1,664 (45.1%)	867 (23.5%)	749 (20.3%)	192 (5.2%)	12 (0.3%)	4 (0.1%)	202 (5.5%)	95.1	47^th of 697 public high schools	93.3%		91.9	48^th of 699 public high schools	93.1%	1	67.4															44.5	53.8	97.7	98.0	98.0	98.0	97.6	97.8	96.5	95.4	$27,900	$465	$27,435
ETHS Day School	Public	9-12	1233 Hartrey Ave	Evanston	60202	Cook County	Evanston Township HSD 202	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(847) 424-7009	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																		100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	95.7

Cities Near Evanston

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Wilmette	1.38 mi	7	13^th
Skokie	1.55 mi	15	242^nd
Kenilworth	2.49 mi	1	8^th
Winnetka	2.8 mi	7	9^th
Chicago	2.86 mi	662	698^th

See the top IL Illinois cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.