School safety is at the top of every parent’s list, right along with high academics, plenty of extracurricular and a good selection of enrichment classes.
While no one can predict a school shooting or other violence, there is some data that can provide insight into a school district’s overall safety. Niche, a popular schools-and-neighborhoods data website, attempted to provide such a gauge. It set out to find and rate the safest schools in the U.S. by looking at student and parent ratings of health and safety, area crime rates, and rates for expulsion, suspension, and school related arrests.
In Illinois, 546 school districts were rated among the safest public school districts in Illinois. One district is not only No. 1 in Illinois, it’s No. 1 in America.
We’ve examined the top 30, pulling out those school districts located right here in Chicagoland. It’s also worth noting that other Chicagoland districts – including local ones that don’t appear in the top 30 – might also have strong safety in place. They simply did not appear within the “top” assembled by Niche.
Safest School Districts in Chicagoland, According to Niche
Community High School District No. 128 School District, Vernon Hills
- Ranking: No. 1 (Also No. 1 in U.S.)
- 3,322 students in grades 9-12
- Student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1
New Trier Township High School District No. 203, Northfield
- Ranking: No. 4
- 43,987 students in grades 9-12
- Student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1
Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125, Lincolnshire
- Ranking: No. 10
- 4,265 students in grades 9-12
- Student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1
Glenbrook High Schools District 225, Glenview
- Ranking: No. 12
- 5,140 students in grades 9-12
- Student-teacher ratio 17 to 1
Township High School District No. 113, Highland Park
- Ranking: No. 15
- 33,624 students in grades 9-12
- Student-teacher ratio 14 to 1
Libertyville School District No. 70, Libertyville
- Ranking: No. 19
- 2,246 students in grades PK, K-8
- Student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1
Lake Forest School District No. 67, Lake Forest
- Ranking: No. 24
- 1,700 students in grades PK, K-8
- Student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1
Winnetka School District No. 36, Winnetka
- Ranking: No. 25
- 1,633 students in grades PK, K-8
- Student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1
Northbrook-Glenview School District No. 30, Northbrook
- Ranking: No. 28
- 1,208 students in grades PK, K-8
- Student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1
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