633 public K-12 schools in Chicago from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
633 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2024-25 data.
The highest-ranked of Chicago's 633 public schools is Lane Technical High School, scoring 39/100, against a city average of 31.5/100. Computed live across every Chicago campus reporting to NCES.
How the Chicago Public-School Landscape Breaks Down
Chicago, IL enrolls 328,333 students across 633 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 119 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 14.4:1, and the composite quality score, derived from student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted-program availability, and CRDC attendance data, averages 31.5/100. Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.
The most-resourced campus in Chicago on this index is Lane Technical High School, at 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index with 4,604 enrolled students. What the index does and doesn't measure; click any school below for its full component breakdown.
Chicago spans 1 district, each filing its own NCES F-33 return, per-pupil spending can vary between neighbouring campuses. Sort the table below by enrollment, level, or district; click any school for its full profile.
Chicago school enrollment varies 4.4× across entities
Chicago school enrollment ranges from 1,050 students (lowest) to 4,604 students (highest), a spread of 3,554 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous school portfolio for a city this size. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape, a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.
Chicago operates only 1 school district — among the most consolidated governance structures in the country
Most Chicago school districts are a single unified district covering the whole city, a structural feature that simplifies inter-school comparison but concentrates policy authority. Consolidation produces narrower variance because resources pool across larger populations, but it can also mask intra-school district inequities — sub-school district differences within a single school district are not visible at this aggregation level. Consolidated systems typically rely more heavily on top-down funding formulas than on local revenue variability.
Chicago student-teacher ratio is 14.4:1: slightly below the ~15.7 national average, aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 15.7:1
student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment, push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Sitting just under the national figure still leaves meaningful room for sub-unit variation that the aggregate number hides. Variation between sub-units within Chicago is typically wider than the Chicago-aggregate figure suggests.
Chicago has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility: 18.8% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options
charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. This area sits just above the 10% threshold, short of the 30% concentration-grant tier that unlocks supplemental charter school authorisation funding. Just clearing the eligibility threshold means federal support is real but comparatively modest next to higher-concentration areas.
Most racially and ethnically mixed schools in Chicago
Ranked by the Simpson student-body diversity index (0-100) from NCES race and ethnicity data, where higher means a more evenly mixed student body. It measures mix, not quality.
The highest-ranked school in Chicago is Lane Technical High School with a quality score of 39/100. There are 633 public schools in Chicago with 328,333 total students.
How many schools are in Chicago, IL? ▼
Chicago has 633 public schools with a total enrollment of 328,333 students. 119 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 14.4:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio,
counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology, which explains how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
