Hinsdale District 86 Ranked the 4th Best School District in Illinois

After rounding out 2016 with a long list of accolades, Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is kicking off the new year as one of the highest-ranked school districts in the nation.

Niche, a data compiler, recently released its annual rankings of the best school districts in the country, and District 86 made a top spot as number 21 in the U.S. In Illinois, it was ranked number 4.

Community High School District 128 in Vernon Hills took the number one slot in state rankings.

Niche ranks schools based on analysis of academic and student life data collected by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as test scores, college data and ratings from Niche users, according to Niche's website. Most heavily considered are academics, with 50 percent of the grade's weight, and the following categories are each ranked at 10 percent: culture and diversity, health and safety, parent and student surveys, teachers, and resources and facilities. Sports and student clubs are each considered with a 2.5 percent weight.

Niche ranked 10,364 school districts in total this year.

District 86 scored perfectly in the areas of academics, teachers, activities, food, administration, college readiness, sports and resources. Its lower grades were diversity (B+) and health and safety (A-), but it still pulled off an overall A+ grade.

The district also ranked second in the state for the best school districts for athletes and fifth in the state for the district with the best teachers.

"This is a really great school that truly prepares you for college," one reviewer and alum wrote on Niche. "I was worried about entering college, but Hinsdale Central prepared me well. I have succeeded in college far past my expectations. This high school taught me to have a strong work ethic and dedication to my academics in a positive environment that I know I couldn't find elsewhere. It is a caring environment filled with teachers that genuinely care about your success."

--

Image via Shutterstock