25 Best High Schools in the Midwest

We used six indicators culled from school surveys to compare public high schools in the U.S., with graduation and college acceptance rates weighed most heavily. Other criteria included college-level courses and exams, as well as SAT and ACT scores. Here are the top schools in the Midwest. See full results here.

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Evansville, Indiana

Overall Rank: 6

FINAL SCORE: 9.1601

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.95

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78

SAT: 1822

ACT: 27.6

Signature School

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Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Overall Rank: 17

FINAL SCORE: 8.5485

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.39

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.97

SAT: 1946

ACT: 29.9

International Academy

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Lake Forest, Illinois

Overall Rank: 52

FINAL SCORE: 7.8276

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.7%

College Bound: 97%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 29%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.47

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.95

SAT: 1940

ACT: 25.9

Lake Forest High School

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Edina, Minnesota

Overall Rank: 53

FINAL SCORE: 7.8237

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.4%

College Bound: 96%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 62%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.18

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.58

SAT: 1873

ACT: 26.2

Courtesy of Edina High School

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Ottawa Hills, Ohio

Overall Rank: 58

FINAL SCORE: 7.7707

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 24%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.50

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.82

SAT: 1765

ACT: 26.3

Ottawa Hills High School

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Dublin, Ohio

Overall Rank: 60

FINAL SCORE: 7.7569

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.3%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 72%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.05

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: 1767

ACT: 26.4

Dublin Jerome High School

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St. Louis, Missouri

Overall Rank: 63

FINAL SCORE: 7.7291

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 49%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.78

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.82

SAT: 1920

ACT: 26.1

Ladue Horton Watkins High School

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St. Louis, Missouri

Overall Rank: 79

FINAL SCORE: 7.6129

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 50%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.98

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.25

SAT: N/A

ACT: 26.3

Metro Academic & Classical High

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Kansas City, Kansas

Overall Rank: 95

FINAL SCORE: 7.4887

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 44%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.75

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.60

SAT: N/A

ACT: 21.7

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science

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Mequon, Wisconsin

Overall Rank: 98

FINAL SCORE: 7.4684

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.1%

College Bound: 94%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 31%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.62

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86

SAT: 1871

ACT: 25

Homestead High School

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Cincinnati, Ohio

Overall Rank: 102

FINAL SCORE: 7.4443

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 97.2%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.19

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.89

SAT: 1763

ACT: 26

Indian Hill High School

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Novi, Michigan

Overall Rank: 107

FINAL SCORE: 7.4348

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 97.6%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 60%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.58

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.85

SAT: 1848

ACT: 23.7

Novi High School

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Kirkwood, Missouri

Overall Rank: 108

FINAL SCORE: 7.4204

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 93%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 27%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.47

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.84

SAT: 1770

ACT: 23.9

Kirkwood High School

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Deerfield, Illinois

Overall Rank: 111

FINAL SCORE: 7.4062

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 97.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 29%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.60

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91

SAT: 1930

ACT: 27

Deerfield High School

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Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Overall Rank: 114

FINAL SCORE: 7.3967

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.5%

College Bound: 94%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 36%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.84

SAT: 1721

ACT: 25.4

Chagrin Falls High School

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Overland Park, Kansas

Overall Rank: 120

FINAL SCORE: 7.3552

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 97.5%

College Bound: 91%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 72%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.50

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.77

SAT: 1915

ACT: 25.3

Blue Valley High School

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Eagan, Minnesota

Overall Rank: 124

FINAL SCORE: 7.3414

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.4%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 25%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.39

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91

SAT: 1883

ACT: 25.4

Eagan High School

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Decorah, Iowa

Overall Rank: 126

FINAL SCORE: 7.3406

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 26%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.31

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.72

SAT: N/A

ACT: 24.6

Decorah High School

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Southfield, Michigan

Overall Rank: 128

FINAL SCORE: 7.3150

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.26

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.42

SAT: N/A

ACT: 22.4

University High School Academy

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Northbrook, Illinois

Overall Rank: 132

FINAL SCORE: 7.2764

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 26%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.52

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.90

SAT: 1889

ACT: 20.6

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Palatine, Illinois

Overall Rank: 137

FINAL SCORE: 7.2544

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 97.0%

College Bound: 96%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 37%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.62

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.90

SAT: 1900

ACT: 25

William Fremd High School

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Brookfield, Wisconsin

Overall Rank: 143

FINAL SCORE: 7.2057

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.8%

College Bound: 90%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 41%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.58

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.70

SAT: 1947

ACT: 25.3

Brookfield East High School

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Kansas City, Missouri

Overall Rank: 149

FINAL SCORE: 7.1654

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 98.5%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.75

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.54

SAT: N/A

ACT: 22.4

Lincoln College Preparatory Academy

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Chicago, Illinois

Overall Rank: 151

FINAL SCORE: 7.1509

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 97.2%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.41

SAT: 1899

ACT: 27.8

Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

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Upper Arlington, Ohio

Overall Rank: 152

FINAL SCORE: 7.1461

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 97.0%

College Bound: 94%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.00

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.76

SAT: 1707

ACT: 25

Upper Arlington High School