Edison Elementary Named Best School in Illinois
The Chicago school earned the state's top ranking for its outstanding student performance in reading and math.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Primary Education
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U.S. News and World Report has named Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center the number one elementary school in Illinois for 2027. The Albany Park institution outperformed both state and local district averages in key academic subjects.
Why it matters
The ranking highlights the significant gap between high-performing specialized centers and broader public education outcomes in Chicago. These evaluations provide families with critical benchmarks regarding school efficacy when measured against socioeconomic demographics.
Edison serves approximately 265 students with a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 9% economically disadvantaged enrollment. The school employs 20 full-time equivalent teachers and one full-time counselor to support its K-8 population.
The players
Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center
This Chicago-based public school serves K-8 students and is located in the Albany Park neighborhood.
U.S. News and World Report
This media organization produces annual educational rankings based on standardized test data and demographic analysis.
Chicago Public Schools District 299
This large urban school district oversees public education for students residing within Chicago city limits.
Skinner North Elementary School
This Chicago-based educational institution achieved the second-highest ranking in the state for 2027.
The details
Rankings were calculated using a weighted formula that combines raw state assessment results with performance relative to student socioeconomic backgrounds. Edison secured the top spot, while Skinner North Elementary School, also in Chicago, claimed the second position.
Timeline
U.S. News and World Report released the 2027 elementary school rankings in October 2026.
Culture Shift
These rankings reflect a broader shift toward using socioeconomic-adjusted metrics to evaluate school success beyond raw test scores. This methodology attempts to distinguish institutional efficacy from the inherent advantages often found in more affluent student populations.
Parents and local residents can use these rankings to gauge the educational outcomes of their neighborhood schools relative to citywide trends. Families may consider this data when evaluating K-8 options within the Chicago public school system.
The takeaway
Understanding these rankings helps families differentiate between schools that leverage local resources effectively versus those struggling to meet proficiency standards. Residents should note that a school's ranking is heavily influenced by how well it serves its specific demographic profile.
Further reading
For more information on local school performance, visit the Primary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Time Out Worldwide.
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