Clarendon Hills Middle School is the top-ranked public middle school in Illinois, according to Niche's 2027 K-12 rankings released Sept. 29.

The ranking is part of a broader sweep for Community Consolidated School District 181. The district earned an overall A+ grade, a No. 5 statewide ranking for Best Teachers and individual A+ grades for all nine of its schools, the district announced Oct. 8.

All nine schools earned A+ grades.

Hinsdale Middle School ranked No. 7 among Illinois public middle schools. Those middle school results add to the elementary honors we reported Oct. 2, when seven D181 elementary schools placed in the state's Top 10, led by Elm Elementary at No. 1 and Monroe Elementary at No. 2.

"These ratings are a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit that define the District 181 Experience," Superintendent Jim Wipke said in the district's announcement.

Wipke credited educators, support staff, students and families for the honors.

District 181 serves about 3,574 students across seven elementary schools, two middle schools and a preschool in Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and portions of Burr Ridge, Oak Brook and Willowbrook. The full elementary rankings: Elm (No. 1), Monroe (No. 2), The Lane (No. 4), Walker (No. 5), Oak (No. 6), Madison (No. 8) and Prospect (No. 10).

The recognition follows a string of recent honors. Walker School and Clarendon Hills Middle School earned National Blue Ribbon School awards in October 2025. The D181 Board of Education received the Illinois Association of School Boards Governance Recognition in March 2025, an honor given to 5% of boards statewide. In June, the district earned a Model Professional Learning Community designation from Solution Tree.

Niche compiled the rankings using U.S. Department of Education data, state test scores, graduation rates and feedback from students and parents. For the 2027 cycle, Niche dropped SAT and ACT scores from its methodology, citing the broader shift away from standardized testing in college admissions. The rankings evaluated more than 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools and 11,000 districts nationwide.

Hinsdale education week ahead

No upcoming D181 board meetings or public hearings appeared on the district calendar as of Oct. 9. Check d181.org for updated board and committee schedules.