Five District 181 elementary schools placed among the 25 best public elementary schools in Illinois in U.S. News & World Report's 2027 rankings, released Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Elm Elementary School in Burr Ridge was listed sixth on the statewide list. Prospect Elementary School in Clarendon Hills appeared 13th. Monroe Elementary School in Hinsdale was listed 14th, Madison Elementary School in Hinsdale 18th and The Lane Elementary School in Hinsdale 21st.

The rankings evaluated about 46,000 public elementary schools nationwide, according to Patch, which first reported the Illinois list. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center in Chicago topped the state.

U.S. News changed its methodology this year. The 2027 rankings incorporate data collected directly from state education agencies by RTI International, alongside U.S. Department of Education data. In previous years, state reports were not part of the formula.

"By incorporating direct state data across all proficiency levels, the 2027 rankings offer a richer, more complete picture of how elementary and middle schools are driving student growth," Eric Brooks, U.S. News director of education data analysis, said in a news release.

The methodology measures student performance in reading and math alongside student demographic context. Student-teacher ratios break ties.

A separate set of Niche 2027 K-12 rankings told a similar story. Elm Elementary placed first among Illinois public elementary schools in the Niche list, Monroe second, The Lane fourth, Madison eighth and Prospect 10th. Niche draws on U.S. Department of Education data, state test scores, graduation rates and student and parent feedback.

District 181 Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke said in the district's Niche announcement that the results reflect "the hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit" across the district. All nine D181 schools earned individual A+ overall grades from Niche. The district serves about 3,500 students across Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and portions of Burr Ridge, Oak Brook, and Willowbrook.

The U.S. News rankings cover elementary schools offering pre-K through fifth or sixth grade. Charter schools are ranked in a separate category.