3. Walter Payton College Prep
Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago, Illinois, has an average SAT score of 1390 and an average ACT score of 31. It has a student enrollment of 887 and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. Proficiency in mathematics and reading is 99%. Located on Chicago’s north side, this high school is an internationally recognized science, math, and world language academy founded in 2000. It is a selective-enrollment public high school that fosters student discovery, intellectual curiosity and international exploration. The four Cs embraced at this school are character, courage, curiosity and compassion.
Students at Payton eagerly embrace the rigors of an all honors and advanced placement curriculum. They work with their teachers, peers, and national authorities to solve real-world problems. Students video conference with sister schools around the world. This school is an international model for global learning and teaching. In 2017, Walter Payton College Prep was ranked as the best public high school in the U.S. by Niche.