The Chicago Sun-Times bases its exclusive rankings of schools on average scores on the Illinois State Achievement Tests.
  1. Young Magnet* (Chicago) - 95.54
  2. Keller Gifted* (Chicago) - 94.24
  3. Edison Regional Gifted* (Chicago) - 93.98
  4. Lenart Regional Gifted* (Chicago) - 92.81
  5. Hawthorne Magnet (Chicago) - 91.04
  6. Skinner Classical Magnet West* (Chicago) - 86.50
  7. Oriole Park (Chicago) - 85.50
  8. Butler (Oak Brook) - 85.15
  9. Daniel Wright (Lincolnshire) - 84.80
  10. McClure (Western Springs) - 84.80
  11. Maple (Northbrook) - 84.66
  12. Marie Murphy (Wilmette) - 84.57
  13. Taft** (Chicago) - 84.09
  14. Lincoln (Chicago) - 83.47
  15. Kennedy (Lisle) - 83.02
  16. Bell (Chicago) - 82.46
  17. A Jackson Magnet (Chicago) - 82.43
  18. Chopin (Chicago) - 82.20
  19. Twin Groves (Buffalo Grove) - 82.20
  20. Clarendon Hills (Clarendon Hills) - 81.51
  21. Burley (Chicago) - 81.00
  22. Woodlawn (Long Grove) - 80.98
  23. Bannockburn (Bannockburn) - 80.78
  24. The Joseph Sears (Kenilworth) - 80.43
  25. Hinsdale Middle (Hinsdale) - 80.01
Click here to see the rest of the Top 50 Chicago area middle schools.