Stevenson, Buffalo Grove High Schools Ranked Among Top 15 Schools in State

Stevenson and Buffalo Grove High Schools are among the top 15 highest rated schools out of 56 in the state, according to a recent Washington
Post List of Top Schools.

The #4 spot went to Stevenson High School, who was rated behind three ‘closed enrollment’ high schools, where students must apply and be accepted into them. That makes Stevenson the highest rated ‘open enrollment’ school in Illinois.

Buffalo Grove High School also had an impressive ranking, coming in 13 amongst the high schools ranked in the state.

The rankings are judged by Prairie State Achievement Test results, the number of advanced placement classes taken by students and test results-which are then divided by the number of graduating high school seniors. 

A total of 1,900 high schools were judged by the Washington Post across the nation.

Nationally, Stevenson came in at 254, while Buffalo Grove was at 583.

“We credit our success to great teachers, a very supportive community and excellent elementary and junior high schools that prepare our students to come to Stevenson,” said Jim Conrey, Stevenson High School public information coordinator.

Conrey added that there is a strong emphasis on challenging students to take at least one advanced placement class while at Stevenson.

“Studies have shown that students who take college level courses and AP exams are ultimately more confident and successful when they go off to college than those who don’t,” Conrey said.

The mindset behind Buffalo Grove High School’s solid rankings boil down to constantly challenging students and the level of the curriculum, according to Susan Carley, associate principal of instruction at Buffalo Grove High School.

“What is foremost on our minds as educators is how to provide the highest level of instruction for our students,” said Carley.

“We of course focus on preparing and educating our students so they can take those AP classes, but the first focus is on the opportunities that an education creates for them in the future,” Carley said.

U.S. News and World Report published a recent ranking of their own surveying 21,776 high schools in the United States.

Stevenson placed at 162 while Buffalo Grove High School was at 503.  

“In the area of constant improvement, we have our administration and teachers asking the question of how we can continue to better reach yet another student,” Carley said. “If we continue that approach, the recognition follows.”