Aurora’s IMSA Is No. 1! Niche’s 2019 Best Public School in America
Kane County’s very own Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora has been named the No. 1 public school in America.
“IMSA’s focus on “igniting and nurturing creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition” through inquiry and problem-solving, instills curiosity and creativity in our students,” states Dr. José Torres, IMSA president. “Our faculty challenges our students to explore, discover, and apply knowledge to solve real-world problems and arrive at solutions that demonstrate risk taking, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”
In addition to being ranked as the No. 1 public high school in America out of 18,841 schools, IMSA received top rankings in Best Public High School Teachers in Illinois, Best High Schools for STEM in Illinois, and Most Diverse Public High School in Kane County, among many other accolades.
IMSA received an overall Niche grade of A+.
Niche’s annual K-12 rankings combine rigorous analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education for factors like academics, teachers, culture and diversity and more with millions of reviews from students and parents about their local schools.
In second was Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Virginia. The No. 3 school in the rankings was Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago.
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
No. 1 Best Public High Schools in America
Senior: Wonderful experience! I loved going to IMSA for the past three years. Although the academics are very challenging, and many late nights will be spent studying, the teachers care about the students and want to see them grow and succeed. The opportunities here are endless, including a wonderful SIR (Student Inquiry Research) program which allows the students to spend their Wednesdays researching. The school has also had many new renovations, including new science labs, study areas, and much more. The school is also so diverse, and students are encouraged to share their opinions and life stories. What a wonderful place to study!
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649 Students
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12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
More Rankings
2019 Best Public High Schools Methodology
The 2019 Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users.
Factors Considered
| Factor | Description | Source | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academics Grade | Based on state assessment proficiency, SAT/ACT scores, and survey responses on academics from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 60.0% |
| Culture & Diversity Grade | Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 10.0% |
| Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience | Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale regarding the overall experience of students and parents from the school. | Self-reported by Niche users | 10.0% |
| Teachers Grade | Based on teacher salary, teacher absenteeism, state test results, and survey responses on teachers from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 10.0% |
| Clubs & Activities Grade | Based on expenses per student and survey responses on clubs and activities from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 2.5% |
| Health & Safety Grade | Based on chronic student absenteeism, suspensions/expulsions, and survey responses on the school environment from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 2.5% |
| Resources & Facilities Grade | Based on expenses per student, staffing, and survey responses on facilities from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 2.5% |
| Sports Grade | Based on the number of sports, participation, and survey responses on athletics and athletic facilities from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 2.5% |
For more details about how we calculate our rankings, click here.
SOURCE: Niche, IMSA websites
